Pandemic Brings Even Tougher Times for Kosovo Arts Scene

"The state is demonstrating that it doesn't love us, even though we, the freelance artists, are the ones who create the cultural life in Kosovo."

Theatres to reopen mid-June

Ben Apollon (left) and actor Arjola Demiri (right) in stage after the play "Dashurite e virgjereshes Madalene" (The loves of the virgin Madalene) directed by Apolloni. Photo: Courtesy of Ben Apolloni.

Being an actor, artist or anyone else on Kosovo's arts scene has never been particularly lucrative. The country's eight theatres operate on tight budgets. COVID-19 has made things even more precarious given the lockdown and what will likely be long-term social distancing measures.

"If we had an activity broadcast live on TV the situation would be different," said Feim Maliqaj, acting director of the National Theatre in the capital, Pristina. "But since all the shows are made for the public and in the presence of the public they are cancelled."

The National Theatre approved its artistic repertoire for the season on February 7. A month later, COVID-19 cancelled everything and Kosovo began registering its first confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

Likewise, Kreshnik Musolli, the acting director of the National Ballet, said all performances had been cancelled and the premises disinfected.

Kosovo has since confirmed just over 1,100 cases and 30 people have died. But the lockdown has been eased and cultural institutions are due to reopen in mid-June.

Kosovo's finance ministry told BIRN that the emergency package adopted by the previous government, which was replaced on June 3, provides for an additional five million euros for the culture ministry, to be used at its discretion.

Osman Gashi, a spokesman for the culture...