Prishtina, 21 July 2022
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has started the public outdoors engagement with the “Manifesta” festival, with the reception he has organized for international and local journalists, on the terrace of the Grand Hotel.
The “Manifesta fourteen” in Prishtina is the best news we could have for this summer for so many different communities, Prime Minister Kurti said in his speech in front of journalists. The role of cultural journalism, according to the prime minister, is to make the magic accessible, for art to be life-changing, for it to become part of our daily lives. Without the critic, the culture is ungrounded, without the reporter, art withers, he added.
Currently, the main spaces in the media are filled with wars, global warming, inflation and so on. However, it is you, the art journalist, that provide great pathway for reflection via your coverage of cultural events, the ties that bind us together, the Prime Minister said.
The Ministry of Culture is working to establish a museum of contemporary art, therefore, as the Prime Minister said, “Manifesta” comes at the perfect time because all the experience gained from “Manifesta” will be crucial in founding this museum.
He expressed the hope that until the next “Manifesta” festival, it will be possible to share very good news regarding the progress of the Kosovo contemporary art museum.
The Prime Minister also greeted the six journalists from Ukraine, who were present at the organized reception, and expressed sympathy, empathy, admiration and solidarity for the liberation struggle of the people of Ukraine.
The full speech of Prime Minister Albin Kurti:
Dear guests,
Dear international journalists,
Dear local journalists,
It is my pleasure to start with you my public outdoors engagement with “Manifesta” and it is fitting for “Manifesta” to start their busy day honouring you that cover the field of culture. The role of cultural journalism is to make the magic accessible, for art to be life-changing, for it to become part of our everyday lives, we rely on cultural journalism. Without the critic, the culture is ungrounded, without the reporter, art withers.
Today the people are bombarded with information everywhere they look, everywhere they go. Often, this information is about the politics and politicians. Currently, the main spaces in the media are filled with wars, global warming, inflation and so on. However, it is you, the art journalist, that provide great pathway for reflection via your coverage of cultural events, the ties that bind us together.
Meanwhile, you art journalists impact both: the journalism and the art. “Manifesta fourteen” in Prishtina is the best news we could have for this summer for so many different communities. First, the cultural industry is slowly going back to normal. Art biennale is coming back again after three years of lockdown. Great news for the artistic community globally. Second, the local artistic and logistical capacity is being pressure tested and many lessons are being learned. And third, “Manifesta” means a booming of tourist that is what our country needs again, especially after the COVID lockdown.
As you may already know, Kosovo has produced many well celebrated contemporary artists. As a hub of culture, the Republic of Kosovo owes it to ourselves to engage very seriously in creating the infrastructure for these artists to develop and work here. We have many undiscovered artists that likewise should have the right and infrastructure and other conditions to be able to learn, perform and become artist here.
Therefore, the Ministry of Culture is working to establish a museum of contemporary art. “Manifesta” comes at the perfect time because all this experience gained from “Manifesta” will be crucial in founding this museum. We already have on board many great artists that are visualising the museum and we hope that by the next “Manifesta” we will be able to share very good news regarding the progress of the Kosovo contemporary art museum.
But Kosovo’s cultural capacity is beyond the contemporary art. We have many successful musicians, world-recognized filmmakers, well-known writers, one of the world greatest documentary festivals, and so on. And our government in its first years has doubled the budget for film and music. We are just getting started. I hope that you enjoy your days here. You will see why Kosovo punches above its weight in all the creative spheres. It is our energy.
Thank you very much. And, if art alludes to rarity and culture to custom, I hope that our joint work can help to turn culture more artistic and to make art a matter of culture.
Let me end by welcoming again a journalist from Ukraine, who became a resident of our capital town Prishtina since the unjustified, unprovoked and horrible Russian invasion and military aggression in Ukraine. Our sympathy, empathy and admiration and solidarity go with the liberation struggle of the people of Ukraine.
Thank you again.
Last modified: July 21, 2022