Turning creativity into a voice for change
Art. Advocacy. Participation. Inclusion.
What if art could do more than inspire? What if it could open conversations, challenge discrimination and bring communities and decision-makers together to create change?
ARTvocacy 4 E(U) is a 36-month European Union co-funded project that uses creativity as a powerful tool for civic participation, advocacy and social inclusion in Albania. By combining artivism (activism through art) with structured advocacy, the project empowers young people to express their experiences, make their voices heard and actively shape the decisions that affect their lives.
The project works to strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs), support grassroots initiatives and create meaningful dialogue between young people, communities and public institutions. Its ambition is to move beyond one-off awareness activities and build a stronger, more connected civil society capable of influencing policies and promoting equality and inclusion.
ARTvocacy 4 E(U) is coordinated by Stichting MasterPeace (the Netherlands), in partnership with YEU International (Belgium), ACT for Society (Albania) and OMSA Albania. Bringing together international experience in creative engagement, youth participation and advocacy with strong local expertise, the partnership works to strengthen the Albanian civil society ecosystem and connect it to European networks.
Three creative cycles – six cities, one shared ambition
At the heart of ARTvocacy 4 E(U) is an innovative city-twinning approach. Six Albanian cities are connected in three consecutive creative cycles, creating opportunities for organisations, young people and artists to exchange ideas, learn from each other and develop joint initiatives.
Each cycle brings together two cities in a creative twinning partnership. Through joint activities, peer learning and exchange visits, participants explore local challenges and develop artistic responses that speak to their communities.
Cycle 1: Shkodër & Durrës – Music and murals
The first creative twinning connects Shkodër and Durrës. Young people explore how music and visual art can communicate messages about inclusion, diversity and participation. The cycle features My Music MasterPeace, where young people and musicians co-create original songs, and Walls of Connection, a collaborative mural initiative transforming public spaces into messages of solidarity and inclusion.
Cycle 2: Korçë & Gjirokastër – Words and installations
The second cycle brings together Korçë and Gjirokastër. Through spoken word, poetry and storytelling, young people explore identity, visibility and discrimination, transforming personal experiences into collective expression. In parallel, creative installations offer new ways to engage the public and encourage reflection on diversity and inclusion.
Cycle 3: Tirana & Berat – Street art and light
The final creative twinning connects Tirana and Berat. Theatre, hip-hop and street performances bring advocacy messages into public spaces, while light art and projection installations transform familiar landmarks into platforms for inclusive messages and creative expression.
Across all three cycles, young people work alongside artists and local civil society organisations to turn ideas into visible public actions. The city twinnings also build lasting connections between local organisations, encouraging cooperation that goes beyond the project itself.
Creativity meets dialogue: from public events to policy influence
ARTvocacy 4 E(U) believes that artistic expression can be a starting point for meaningful social and political change. But making voices heard is only the first step. The project creates opportunities for those voices to reach communities, institutions and decision-makers through a series of connected public and advocacy activities.
Creative events – bringing ideas into public spaces
Each of the six cities hosts a major public artivism event, showcasing the creative work developed by young people and local artists. From original music and murals to spoken word, theatre, street performances and light installations, these events invite the wider public to engage with questions of equality, diversity and inclusion. They make often-overlooked experiences visible and create opportunities for conversation and connection.
Community Forums – listening and understanding local needs
Community Forums bring together young people, civil society organisations, community members and local authorities. They provide a space to share experiences, identify challenges and discuss possible solutions. The forums also offer opportunities to present the project’s creative outputs and use them as starting points for deeper conversations about inclusion and local change.
Civic Agoras – turning community voices into action
The Civic Agoras create a space for open dialogue between civil society, young people, community representatives and policymakers. Moderated by trained young people, these gatherings encourage participants to exchange perspectives, discuss the issues raised through the creative activities and identify concrete steps towards change. The process will contribute to the development of six local advocacy roadmaps, connecting community priorities with policy action.
Great Minds Meetings (GMMs) – connecting local action with wider change
The Great Minds Meetings bring together civil society representatives, young activists, artists, policymakers, institutional representatives and other key stakeholders. These gatherings provide a platform to present achievements, discuss challenges and explore opportunities for stronger cooperation between civil society and public institutions.
One meeting will take place in each of the six cities, followed by a final national gathering in Tirana. The closing meeting will showcase the achievements of all three creative cycles and support the launch of the Albanian ARTvocacy Network, strengthening connections between organisations and creating a foundation for continued cooperation. The project will also bring its experience and results to a European audience through a showcase in Brussels.
Together, these activities create a continuous process: artistic expression opens conversations, community dialogue identifies priorities, and structured advocacy helps translate those priorities into policy recommendations and commitments.
Be part of ARTvocacy 4 E(U)!
The first open call is coming in November 2026!
ARTvocacy 4 E(U) will invite civil society organisations, grassroots initiatives and youth-led groups in Albania to become part of this creative movement.
Through three open-call rounds, the project will select and support 18 organisations across six cities, bringing together civic and human rights organisations, youth-led initiatives and art-based organisations. Selected organisations will receive financial support, mentoring and capacity-building opportunities to develop local ARTvocacy activities and engage their communities.
The project will also support young artists through small grants, creating opportunities to turn their creative ideas into public actions that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Are you ready to turn creativity into action and make your voice count?
Stay tuned for the first open call in November 2026. More information about eligibility, application guidelines and the selection process will be announced soon.