"Oda" looking for alternative spaces after renovation begins

The request for the renovation of the building where the "Oda" theater has been operating for 22 years, just like the promises, has been long overdue, and finally the works have begun. On paper, the project weighs 1.3 million euros, for those who operate in this space in the Palace of Youth and Sports, the renovation has been considered delayed, but necessary, and until the works are completed, the "Oda" theater and the "Multimedia Center" that have been operating there for five years, are waiting to find solutions with alternative spaces.

The renovation works of the "Oda" theater have begun. The interior of the theater has been transformed into a layer of debris, boards, dismantled equipment and scattered cables. The demolition of the upper part built over the stage has entered the first phase, practically marking the closure of the theater for an indefinite period.

The renovation of the "Oda" comes after a multi-year process of requests for intervention in this space of the Palace of Youth and Sports, which despite its function as a theater since 2003, has never had a full investment in infrastructure. During the summer, the Ministry of Culture announced the tender which on paper weighed 2.5 million euros, divided into two parts, where 1.3 million are foreseen for the renovation of the "Oda" theater building and 1.2 million for the Ferizaj theater, "Adriana".

However, this amount was not foreseen in the annual budget of MCYS and it remains unclear from which budget lines the intervention will be fully covered.

The tender dossier explains that the “Oda” space has changed functions several times, from a bowling center to a nightclub, before being transformed into a theater. Therefore, the aim of the project is to restore it as close to its original condition as possible and adapt it to current theater standards, considering that the building is under protection as a cultural heritage monument.

Playwright Jeton Neziraj, head of the "Multimedia" center that has been operating in the "Oda" theater space for the last five years, described the renovation as overdue and necessary, recalling that previous initiatives were suspended during the previous term of the mayor of Pristina.

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"The idea of ​​renovation is not new, it started many years ago, after much insistence, and was finally concretized at the time when Pristina was led by Shpend Ahmeti. He had allocated an initial fund and initiated the process, but that process was blocked and completely ignored by the current mayor, Përparim Rama. Fortunately, that process, interrupted by the Municipality, was moved to the Ministry of Culture. It concretized the idea, allocating an initial fund and starting the procedures in a concrete manner," he said.

According to him, no substantial intervention has ever occurred in the more than two decades of the theater's operation. It is not known how long the works there will last, but he emphasized the importance of this initiative.

"We don't know how long it will last, but it is important that this is happening, for the 'Oda' theater, for the artistic community and for the capital's theater scene, because the state of the theater has truly been deplorable, the working conditions have been scandalous, even unhygienic, and the intervention has been more than necessary, even overdue," said Neziraj.

Although the renovation is good news, it has raised concerns about the lack of an alternative space, warning that the artistic community of the capital risks being left without a functional stage for years. It has been three and a half years since – in the name of the finding that it poses a risk – the National Theater of Kosovo building was closed, while the TKK moved to the Palace of Youth and Sports. The completion of the restoration works with a 7 million euro project still seems far away. Since September of last year, the Museum of Kosovo has also been closed for restoration of over 3 million euros. In May, the restoration of the National Gallery of Kosovo also began, with a budget for this year and the next two years of 1.9 million euros.  

"It is necessary that, in parallel with these closures for renovations, which are welcome, we insist on finding alternative spaces for creators, because two-three-four years are too long for Pristina to be left without any performing space," he said.

He added that communication with institutions has been difficult due to the elections and the lack of decision-making.

"It has been a bit difficult due to the elections, to talk to institutions - both local and central - to find a more sustainable solution and we are now hoping, perhaps in the future, to have a little more luck and support to provide alternative work space," said Neziraj.

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According to him, it is up to the Municipality to find alternative spaces.

"It is the Municipality that should find alternative spaces, and unfortunately we saw the Municipality mobilize and make efforts to be active in the field of culture only before the elections, because it was the moment when they wanted to show that they really care about the culture of the capital. In fact, they have not cared for these four years, they made an effort to care a little in the last three or four weeks before the elections. This is ironic in fact," he said.

The director of the "Oda" theater, Florent Mehmeti, has confirmed that the theater has already moved its equipment and inventory, while it is looking for a temporary space.

"We knew that we would have a phase where we would be moving from one space to another and we are currently in this phase and looking for a solution for an alternative temporary location, where it could be a base from which we can operate, possibly a space for work, for rehearsals and for some events or performances of a certain level, depending on the space we can provide," he said.

According to Mehmeti, artistic work will not stop, even if institutions delay in providing a space.

"We are a cultural institution that produces and works on artistic and cultural works, so not everything is related to space, of course it is an important part, especially since it has created a history of 22 years, but the work is continuing even now that we are talking about projects and theater productions that we will continue to show in different countries," he stated.

He added that the design process took time due to the agreement with the Institute for the Protection of Monuments, as the Youth Palace building is under protection.

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"Everything will be done from scratch, of course with care to preserve the values ​​of the Youth Palace building itself, you know that it is under protection. This has taken time, because the project has been worked out in many details, to ensure the approval of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments," added Mehmeti.

Neither the MCYS nor the Municipality of Pristina have given a clear deadline for the completion of the works. According to the leaders of the “Oda”, the process could take several years, during which time Pristina will be left with only one functional theater space, and that one is half-full. For the artistic community and the theater scene of the capital, the renovation of the “Oda” is a long-awaited development. But without an immediate solution for alternative spaces, the period after the closure could bring new difficulties for creators who have been operating in inadequate conditions for years.