"Independent scene" organizations receive 4.6 million euros, accusations surface

There are 265 organizations of the so-called "independent cultural scene" that will receive some 4,6 million euros if the budget is not increased with the final list. Some of them already have a guaranteed budget for three years, among the beneficiaries there are also events without much weight, while some of those who have been left out have exploded in accusations. In general, 24 organizations will receive 2 million and 111 thousand euros for three years. A situation like this is repeated as soon as the preliminary lists are released

The Ministry of Culture has once again opened its wallet wide this year in relation to non-governmental organizations operating in the field of culture and cultural heritage. According to the preliminary list of evaluations, it has supported the projects of 23 organizations for three years. One organization for two years. In general, 24 organizations will receive 2 million and 111 thousand euros for three years. While over 2 million and 500 thousand euros have been allocated for the annual projects of 241 other organizations. Altogether, 265 organizations will receive over 4 million and 600 thousand euros. This is the second year that the MCYS allocates funds for up to three years for non-governmental organizations. Some of them have completely peripheral activities and their contribution to culture is almost imperceptible. On the other hand, there are also already traditional organizations that have not received a single cent in the preliminary evaluation. Reactions have been immediate, as soon as the list was published.

The Ministry of Culture has opened a call for project proposals in the field of art, culture and cultural heritage for the second time this year, with the possibility of supporting organizations for up to three years. According to the preliminary list, three organizations have been supported with the largest amounts under the category "Three-year support for organizational and program development of NGOs in the field of art, culture and cultural heritage". The deadline for complaints is five days, which falls until July 13.

“Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – BIRN Kosovo” will be supported with 50 thousand euros this year and next year, and with 2027 thousand euros for the project “Promoting the modern history of resistance through 'Reporting House'” for 60. The “7 Arts” organization will be supported with 50 thousand euros for the annual program for three consecutive years. The Educational and Counseling Center will also be supported with 50 thousand euros for three years for the project “The guest keepers – Friends of visitors – Every visitor becomes a friend”. In the second category of the open call at the end of February, “Traditional organizations in the field of art, culture and cultural heritage”, 21 organizations take place. Of these, 20 have been supported for three years and one for two years. “Expoart 40 net/rjet” will receive 40 thousand euros for three years, as will the “Kosovo Center for New Music”, “Mundësia” and the AKT theater and film house. The Kosovo Publishers Association for the Book Fair will receive 40 thousand euros for two years, and 20 thousand in the third. Organizations such as the “ARS-Kosova” music foundation, “Cult Club” and “Pro Plus” will receive from 20 to 40 thousand euros per year for three years. Meanwhile, “Kosova ARS”, “Varg e vi”, “Florg” will receive from 20 to 30 thousand euros for three years. “Mollëkuqet”, “Ekipi Avoko”, “Oldtimer Prizreni”, “Brez pas brezi”, “Q'art”, “Corpo Art”, “Amadeus”, “Prishtina Music Conference” and “Redo” will receive from 15 thousand to 25 thousand euros per year. And the "Podguri" alpine club has been supported for two years. This year with 16 euros, and next year with 600 euros.

In the third category "One-year programs and traditional organizations in the field of art, culture and cultural heritage" there are 7 organizations with 40 thousand euros each, such as "ArtSy" for the EP and music album of Armend Rexhepagiqi, then for the theater festival in Ferizaj, "Kastriotët" also in this city, the "Ramë Lahaj" foundation, "Integra" for a monograph about Melihate Qena (Meli), "Prizren Fest" and the Association of Visual Artists of Kosovo. "Mitrovica International Jazz Days" has been supported with 35 thousand euros, while 4 organizations are also listed with amounts ranging from 30 thousand to 214 thousand euros. This list does not include individual projects, those of young artists, or the mobility fund.

But there are traditional organizations and events that have not found support in this long list of large sums. The “Qahili” Gallery this year marked its 12th anniversary and is one of the most functional independent visual art institutions in the country. But it has not found support.

Nita Qahili, who manages the Gallery, has said that they will file a complaint.

"For us, it is unreasonable and meaningless that we have not been supported, considering that for 12 years now we have been investing and working in the field of art, for the affirmation of art and artists to create collaborations, which has been done and continues to be done," she said. She added that they are the only family that has made a personal investment in an art facility and that intends to continue working and growing in space.

"But regardless, with or without support, we will not stop, we will continue as we have continued until now, because this object was purchased, launched and built solely for that purpose, the development of art and culture, which we have seen the change in people's habits during this period," she said. Eshref Qahili's family, with a gallery on the outskirts of the capital, has been under pressure several times by builders or property developers to give up their house and gallery in exchange for the meters offered in multi-storey buildings, but they have not accepted.

The literary club "De Rada" from Ferizaj has made a public response. They have indicated that the literary colony "Muzat e Jezerci" - the eighth edition, was the only project with which they applied in this year's public call.

"While the evaluation committee (naturally anonymous) has allocated considerable amounts for no less than 265 projects in four categories, including projects unknown to the public, it has not deemed it necessary to give even the minimum of those amounts for a project that for years has been a poetic pilgrimage where prominent names in Albanian literature have left their mark," the reaction reads. According to them, when a literary club with a 55-year history of functioning, which has survived the oppression of the occupier, censorship, book burning and all the uncertainties of the transition, is easily excluded from public support schemes, "the message that is silently conveyed to creators and readers is sad but clear: 'You are not important. We are not interested.'"

"If culture in Kosovo is measured by commercial festivals that promote everything except books, if projects that have no trace of tradition are valued, while serious efforts to preserve literature as the foundation of our national culture are overlooked, then we are not dealing with a weak cultural policy, but with its deliberate destruction by the institutions that should preserve it," reads the reaction launched by Zyrafete Shala, president of the literary club, "De Rada".

According to the Law on Budgetary Allocations, this year the MCYS has 4.3 million euros in the category of "supporting culture". But in recent years, the MCYS has also often used capital investment funds to subsidize projects of what is known as the "independent scene". For this, the acting Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Çeku, has been criticized in parliamentary committees. He fails to advance capital projects and largely finances organizations and individuals. And in the end, these events, and even those of state institutions, are held in private halls with high rents or in premises that do not have any conditions.

Last year, support reached 5.6 million euros. There were 13 organizations that were supported for three years with up to 100 thousand euros per year. The thirteen "first category" organizations were allocated a budget of 2 million 828 thousand euros.

In addition to the "first category", in the second - with maximum annual support of up to 40 thousand euros - there were 23 projects. In the third, up to 20 thousand euros, a full 190 projects.