Six days. Nine venues. Over 180 artists and activists from 19 countries. 29 events. More than 3,000 attendees. FemArt 13 was not just a festival—it was a collective breath, a call for inner freedom, a transformation of pain into strength, and the body into a storyteller of truth.
“Free Your Mind” was more than just a theme—it was a profound journey toward healing. FemArt 13 unfolded as a path carved by feminist artistic courage and the voices that refuse to remain silent in the face of social stigma around mental health, marginalization, and the layered oppression of patriarchy.
On opening night, the pulsating rhythms of Shkodra Elektronike ignited the liberation of Prishtina— mind and soul. Their concert became a collective outburst of love, a ritual of mental illumination. “Good people and nameless ones dance in the soul” — this lyric found its meaning as the celebration began, echoing through the six vibrant days of FemArt. In her blog “Shkodra Elektronike – A Shared Celebration of Freedom,” Gili Hoxhaj writes how Beatriçja thanked the organizers in a unique way: “for still believing in dreams and love.” That kind of belief felt like life itself, a force that united organizers, artists, and audience alike. You’d leave AMC Hall drenched in sweat from dancing, certain that “Free Your Mind” had truly happened.
Freeing and deeply reflective were also the theatrical performances. “The Burial of Shame” by Marrja e Zezë was a powerful ritual to leave behind the collective shame we’ve been taught to carry, while “Silent Voices” from Italy gave presence to silenced bodies, those unable to speak for decades.
Performers on framed drums Shpejtim Smaqi and Sabahete Hasani brought the entire audience to their feet—a different language of the body that needed no words to speak truth. “Each rhythm said: We have survived. Every step replied: And still we rise,” reflected poet Shqipe Malushi.
“Women of Troy” transformed the stage into a globe of war stories—of women still haunted by them, of women who were never given a voice to testify. The play revealed that art is the boldest of all— meeting war head-on and becoming the only space where truth can triumph. Another standout, “I Am Her”—a production by the Gjilan Theater and Bon Production—moved the audience to its core. It reawakened mothers to familiar struggles and sparked a deep sense of solidarity—across all genders. Rhianon Morgan’s performance “AdH(A)rA” was an invitation to inhabit the present moment, where grief revealed a desire to live, to expand, to move forward— together.
In Silent Voices, the voiceless were heard, their stories brought to life. The performance exposed fragments of women’s sexual exploitation. “It makes you rethink everything you believed about this topic—and mourn all the prejudices you may have unknowingly harbored,” wrote Gili Hoxhaj. Young artists from Italy, through their musical performance “Qualcosa di Grande,” danced and sang not to escape the chaos of the world but to confront it—with open hearts. Through a smart blend of music, humor, and memory, they gave voice to a generation often underestimated.
FemArt 13 also brought music that spoke to the soul. Through unconventional, bold, and deeply resonant sounds, the Liburn Jupolli Ensemble and their performance “Tales of Scapes” offered an experience that redefined the very boundaries of music.
“The ensemble embodied the spirit of artistic collaboration, merging music with technology and performance. They brought to the stage a world that speaks of the future while staying deeply rooted in the pursuit of truth through art. For an art that seeks such truths, beyond edges, beyond worlds,” wrote Gili Hoxhaj. Also present were the powerful voices of the women’s choir “Okarina” and, in the luminous closing of Fête de la Musique with Tentative & Zwada, music became more than entertainment—it became emotional freedom.
FemArt also spotlighted untold stories through film. The documentaries “In Search of Burbuqe Rushiti”, “Stuntwomen”, and honored women who have used journalism and physical endurance as tools of truth and defiance. Feature Film “Guida Romantica a Posti Perduti” gently opens up a conversation around mental health, without sensationalizing it—bringing forward the loneliness, denial, and anxiety that often go unspoken.
The international conference “Art + Healing: Mental Health and Emotional Burnout in Creative Resistance” was a day carved with courage and tenderness. From Serbia to Ukraine, France to Kosovo, artists, anthropologists, and activists stood side by side—not as experts, but as witnesses to pain, resilience, and rebirth.
This edition also served as a bridge—connecting artists, activists, and representatives of local and international institutions and festivals through a Networking Night at the Luxembourg Embassy and social gatherings at Bubble Pub After parties.
FemArt 13 was further enriched with workshops, feminist discussions, a “Picnic and Meditation” in the City Park, and activist event in the Prishtina Hammam—demonstrating that art is not only a form of expression but a language of resistance and healing, deeply impacting the social and spiritual fabric of our communities.
With broad international participation, a rich program, and a profound cultural and emotional impact, FemArt continues to be a transformative feminist art movement that inspires, challenges, and empowers.
FemArt is here to stay—alive, bold, and unforgettable.
Key Results of the 13th Edition of Femart Festival
Over 180 artists and activists
Participated from 19 countries, including Austria, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malta, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Widespread digital reach
- 2,638,987 combined views on videos and photos across Facebook and Instagram
- 616,244 people reached
- 20,586 profile visits
- 765 new followers
Engaged and growing audience
- 3,036 total participants attended FemArt 13 events
- 29 diverse activities organized
- 14 blog posts published
City-wide cultural presence
Events were held at 9 venues across Prishtina: AMC Hall, National Theatre, Oda Theatre, French Institute, City Park, City Hamam, Hani i Dy Robertëve, Bubble Pub, and the Embassy of Luxembourg.
11 volunteers contributed their time and energy, supported by one dedicated coordinator.
13 Blogs.
