From Van Gogh to Jazz: Dutch Cultural Week celebrates art and creativity across Albania

The Netherlands is making a splash in Albania with its Dutch Cultural Week, which began on September 7 and runs until September 11.

The activities span multiple cities, including Tirana, Korça, and Shkodra, and feature a wide array of activities. Highlights include an immersive Van Gogh exhibition that plunges visitors into the artist’s colorful world, film screenings with Q&A sessions with directors, creative workshops, various exhibitions, a fair, and a jazz festival designed to keep attendees inspired throughout the week.

In Korça, the Digital Art Gallery will host a special and inclusive exhibition from September 8 to 11, showcasing the genius of Vincent van Gogh. Through evocative projections, sounds, and real scenes from his works, visitors will experience his art in an indescribable manner.

In Tirana, from September 8 to 22, the “World Press Photo 2024” exhibition will be held at Skanderbeg Square. This exhibition, dedicated to media and freedom of expression, features some of the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photographs from the 67th World Press Photo competition.

Among the numerous events, a special one-day seminar on September 9 will focus on building safe and inclusive cycling infrastructure. Shkodra, known for its extensive use of bicycles, has been chosen as the perfect location for this event.

On September 10, in collaboration with the Albanian Media Institute, a workshop on political cartoons will be conducted for students, young designers, and artists. This workshop will be led by Tjeerd Royaards, a renowned Dutch cartoonist with an illustrious career that includes work published in prestigious media such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Le Monde, France 24, and Politico Europe. This is a great opportunity to learn techniques and strategies used in this art form, and the workshop is open to everyone.

The Women’s Fair on September 11 will showcase small businesses led by women and family enterprises presenting locally and artisanally produced Albanian products, supported by Dutch experts.

The concluding event of Dutch Cultural Week will be a special performance by the Dutch jazz group Roaring Cats at The Cloud, Tirana. This concert is part of the third edition of the Gjon Mili Jazz & Blues Festival, which illuminates the legacy of Gjon Mili and Albanian jazz culture. Roaring Cats’ performance will offer a unique collaboration between Dutch and Albanian jazz cultures, providing a fantastic opportunity for the Albanian audience to explore Dutch musical heritage and experience international jazz energy in a unique setting.

Dutch Cultural Week, part of the International Cultural Weeks initiative by the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, aims to introduce and embrace diverse global cultures to the public through a series of engaging events.