Gili Hoxhaj
A few months ago, few would have believed that in September 2026 you could sit comfortably in this space and watch a theatre performance or an artistic presentation. A place where there had been neither roads, nor water, nor sewage. Very little, if any, hope. Many had already dismissed this building as yet another unused space. But last night, this space became visible. The former railway station will now be a place where new creations will begin and find their way. A place for those who create and love creation, for those who believe in the power of community to move forward. Artpolis saw potential in this space. I insisted, and it gave it a soul.
The lights installed high around the building show that the space has opened. It is not an ordinary building, even in its façade. It preserves the memory of what once was on its ceiling, while catching the eye with its dominant purple color. A modern space, ready to make room for everyone.
Two hours before the purple ribbon was to be cut by Zana Hoxha, Director of Artpolis and “FemArt”, and Prishtina Mayor Përparim Rama, the final preparations were underway. The staff made sure that nothing was missing. They carried the same enthusiasm, without a trace of fatigue, as when they first embraced this space as an idea, a concept, a dream that last night became something for everyone to experience. A place where the artist lives through their work and the audience finds its own oasis of rest. The Cultural Station opened its doors on September 28, as part of the 14th edition of FemArt. In keeping with the festival’s motto, FemArt embraced the unknown with courage.
The voices inside, guests of the house arriving with flowers and embraces, gave it life. They met one another to celebrate this new address for coming together. The cultural scene now has a station that does not merely offer another space for an event, but a dedicated space for every artistic event. Over the years, Artpolis has moved from one theatre to another, from one space to the next, through its activities. For organizer Zana Hoxha, barriers created when institutions do not function properly should not become barriers for artists who have no creative deadline – artists who are ready to create at any moment, and who should find a stage ready to welcome them.
Spanning around 600 square metres, designed as a home for artists and an open space for the community, the Station will host theatre performances, exhibitions, performances, workshops, artistic residencies, discussions, educational programmes and community activities throughout the year.
“A massive round of applause for Zana. Thank you for being such a wonderful person!” Prishtina Mayor Përparim Rama called for at the very beginning of his speech.
Rama praised Zana’s contribution to the transformation of Prishtina’s Station, describing it as an example of courage and commitment to change. He stressed that Prishtina needs people who bring new ideas and give life to forgotten spaces, turning them into places where culture, tradition and new initiatives can develop.
“Prishtina cannot move forward without people like Zana. Welcome to the Station of Prishtina. This is a special moment because of Zana. I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for transforming this place, filled with painful memories, memories that had been dead and forgotten, into an event for developing ideas of culture, tradition and new ideas. I ask all of you to have Zana’s courage, to join this transformative process of Prishtina. As mayor, I believe in this transformative process because there are many more spaces like this,” Rama added.
The Cultural Station deepens its bond of trust with those who have journeyed with Artpolis for two decades
The Cultural Station was created as a gift and an expression of trust for those who have journeyed with Artpolis for more than two decades. “We want the Station to be more than a place where activities take place. We want it to be a place where people stop, meet, create and return. A place where someone can enter a theatre for the first time, where a young artist can create their first work, or where a collaboration can emerge that we cannot yet imagine today,” Director Hoxha had said.
On the opening night, she thanked the Municipality of Prishtina, partners from Bavaria, GoFundMe donors and the Artpolis team, which did not stop until this shared dream was brought to life. At the entrance, she has placed their names as a gesture of gratitude.
“When you have a vision, you need people who have visions to make them happen. I am here tonight, in this moment, together with you, because first of all I want to thank all the people who believed in this project. I want to thank the Artpolis team. After a conversation we had with Sibel Halimi, whom I kept approaching for several months, and Sibel was so willing to believe in this idea and told me that we had an opportunity to collaborate, then we had the support of Mayor Rama and the Artpolis staff,” she said.
An old space, ready for a new journey
Since March, there had been months of dust, noise, sun and rain. But above all, months in which an old space began to prepare for a new life. Elira Lluka’s log from Artpolis records rain throughout April, delays and a space that was still waiting to take shape. Then, little by little, everything began to change: the spaces were cleaned, the old windows and doors were removed, work was carried out on the roof, and the walls began to take on a new form. In the final days, the work moved into the heart of the Station – the theatre space. The existing slab was demolished, the ground was prepared, and on April 30 it was concreted.
Sibel Halimi – poet, sociologist and former Director of Culture at the Municipality of Prishtina – believed from the moment she saw the building that it should not remain a lifeless ruin. She explored the space not as an abandoned building, but as an opportunity for our artists. Sibel said she feels proud that Prishtina has women artists like Zana, with extraordinary dedication, courage, imagination and love for art.
“With her fantastic enthusiasm, Zana and I discussed the idea and she immediately embraced it. She went to see the space, and she liked it very much. Later, Mayor Rama also supported the idea. That is how the journey of this space began. Everything that followed is the story of Zana’s tireless work, through which she brought it to life beautifully, perhaps even more beautifully than I could have imagined. And last night, when I saw the Cultural Station alive, filled with art, people and energy, I felt proud and emotional. Proud that a space that once seemed silent and abandoned to me is now speaking through art,” she said.
Actress Anisa Ismaili had been part of activities to clean this abandoned space five years ago. Today, she is surprised by the transformation, and this moment makes her believe that dreams and wishes can become reality.
“Zana proved this by opening a new cultural centre with a beautiful name, Station. It is a very good environment, a space that brings an artist different emotions and ideas. To be honest, I can hardly wait to present one of my ideas and work at the Station,” she added.
In the space dedicated to performances, the first audience were visitors to the Station, while the performance The Canaanite Bitch from Luxembourg arrived somewhere between monodrama and dance theatre, created and performed by Lana Nasser, with live musical accompaniment by Antonio Alemanno. She took the audience to an ancient ruined city, towards the last tree still standing. It carries the stories of her ancestors and tells the story of her kind. Rooted in the memories of people and place. Exiled, exploited and desecrated, yet still carrying the seed of life within it.
The first musical sounds that made those present dance came from LEDA, the Italian band bringing an evening full of energy, rock and alternative sounds. From rock to pop/alternative ballads, Leda brought an energetic evening to a close. Just as the journey of the Cultural Station is expected to be: a place where art has a home from which to set out and to which it can return. A home to discover oneself and connect with others. A station to escape the chaos, and to return whenever you are ready. The doors are open!
