“Cultural Station” – the artistic transformation of an abandoned building

The “new home” of “Artpolis” is a forgotten building at the Pristina Train Station, transformed into an art space and a meeting point for artists and more. Inaugurated with a ribbon cutting, “as a positive, non-toxic creative space”, the stripped walls have taken on color, there is still work to be done to make it fully functional, but for the cultural community it is an indispensable place, and the mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, presents it as an example of his vision for the capital.

What is now called the “Cultural Station” in the “Arbëria” neighborhood of Prishtina has been transformed from an abandoned building into a new space for art, community and cultural education. Opened on Friday night, it aims to become one of the new points of cultural activity in the capital. The opening came as part of the activities of the fourth day of the 14th edition of the international feminist festival “FemArt”, organized by “Artpolis”. 

The space – once a construction material warehouse at the Train Station – requested by this organization and supported by the Municipality of Prishtina, has been conceived as a place where theater, exhibitions, education, workshops, discussions and community meetings with artists are intertwined. The stripped walls have been painted mainly pink, authentic traces have been preserved in some places, but there is still work to be done to make it fully functional. 

For the director of "Artpolis", Zana Hoxha, it is a space that Pristina has been lacking.

"It is a much-needed space. We have needed it a lot and it is a space that Pristina has been missing, a space where artists and the community come together. Where cultural life does not only happen at night, but also during the day, where future generations are educated, where there is space for different opinions, without influences. A positive, non-toxic creative space. This has been the goal," said Hoxha.

She indicated that the facility was in serious condition and that the intervention for its transformation started practically from scratch.

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"It was a dilapidated space, destroyed after the war. Everything was built from scratch. Only the beams and the original walls remained, everything else was renovated, recreated," Hoxha said.

According to her, the intervention has not yet reached the full level of investment that the organization has planned, especially in terms of technical equipment.

"We haven't been able to make all the investment we wanted in professional lighting and sound, but we are expecting continued support," she said.

In their announcement, they also request 100 thousand euros for, as it is written, theater and gallery equipment, lighting, sound, technical equipment and furniture necessary for the full functionality of the space.

"Help us raise 100.000 euros for theater and gallery equipment, lighting, sound, technical equipment and furniture needed to make the space fully functional. Be part of history. Be the reason thousands of untold stories are told. Be the reason Pristina has a cultural home for everyone. With 10 or 100 euros, each donation brings us closer to opening these doors," the September 5 announcement on social media reads. 

"An empty building is not a cultural center," Artpolis emphasized in its call for support, noting that most of the construction work was completed thanks to the Municipality of Pristina and donors.

The Mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, has described the "Cultural Station" as part of the transformation of spaces left in oblivion for years.

"This space is one of the spaces that we have been transforming for years, which have been in a dead or forgotten form, into places that are now used for creativity, to develop ideas of culture, tradition, new thoughts of our wonderful artistic community," said Rama.

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The space has been considered as an address that could expand cultural life in Pristina. University professor and director, Fadil Hysaj, has said that the facility has the potential to become an important point of cultural life in the capital.

"It is a special place and I think it will be an extremely important cultural address in Pristina. I think this space is also authentic, original and has a culturally beneficial breath of the capital," said Hysaj.

According to the concept presented by "Artpolis", the "Pristina Cultural Station" is intended as a space with several functions: a theater for shows, performances and concerts, a gallery for exhibitions, workshops and training, as well as a bar and co-working space.

The organization has intended the space to be both a place of education and a meeting place between generations, describing it as a place for children and young people, for artists who want to experiment and create, but also for the elderly who can reconnect, discuss, and share their experiences.

The opening of the "Cultural Station" has come at a time when Pristina's cultural scene continues to face a lack of suitable spaces for artistic production and presentation. 

As for cultural events, the Station was inaugurated with one. On Monday, the Italian band "Leda" performed with Serene Abrami on vocals, synth and acoustic guitar, Enrico Vitali, also on guitar, Fabrizio Baioni on drums and Giorgio Baioni on bass guitar. 

With its opening, the "Cultural Station" has begun its journey as a new cultural space in the capital. 

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KOHA had reported on the use of the “Cultural Station” and another facility in agreement with the artist Sislej Xhafa in October last year in the article, “Agreements with artists and organizations in the spirit of the election campaign”. “At the height of the election campaign, the mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, has chosen to sign and make public agreements with artists and cultural organizations. By signing cooperation agreements or by making promotional videos of the implementation of the agreements signed this year, Rama has also used part of the artistic community for the electoral campaign. Individuals from this community have directly or indirectly become part of Rama’s campaign. Sislej Xhafa, an internationally renowned artist, has agreed with Mayor Rama to carry out a project in cooperation with the Municipality. Meanwhile, through two promotional videos, it has been learned that the Municipality has given a space for use to the organization ‘Artpolis’ led by the director Zana Hoxha”, KOHA had written. Both agreements were concluded directly, without any public call. KOHA had requested from the organization “Arpolis” the agreement signed with the Municipality and this organization had provided it along with any clarifications requested. According to the agreement signed in March of that year, the capital pledged to allow the development of activities in a space with an area of ​​6 thousand 93 square meters. The founder and director of the organization, Zana Hoxha, had indicated that the process did not go through a public call, but came as a result of their continuous requests since 2015 for the creation of cooperation and the development of cultural activities in public spaces. According to her, these are requests that unfortunately have not been taken into account until then. "The estimated cost for the renovation and revitalization of the facility is around 200 thousand euros, which will be covered by 'Artpolis' through our international and local donors. Through the Cultural Station, we aim not only to create a dynamic cultural center, but also to generate employment for artists and support staff, with a focus on women and marginalized groups, including people with disabilities," Hoxha said. 

"We are turning abandoned spaces into spaces of life," wrote Përparim Rama on Tuesday. "After more than two decades, we returned the Capital Gallery to Prishtina in the Youth Palace. Now, together with 'Arpolis', we are turning the space that entire generations know as 'te Zalli' into the Cultural Station. A place that carries the memory of the 1999 exodus, today opens its doors to art, culture and new horizons," he wrote.