As part of the international project UNMASC!, a series of artistic research workshops were held in Kosovo, using theater as a transformative space to explore gender, equality, and peacebuilding. Facilitated by experienced artists and youth workers, the six workshops took place between September 2024 and March 2025 in Prishtina, Peja, and Ferizaj.
The workshops brought together diverse participants—young people, activists, and artists from Albanian, Serbian, and Roma backgrounds—to challenge gender norms and create powerful narratives of resistance and unity. From storytelling and freeze exercises to performance-based presentations, the sessions emphasized empathy, expression, and social change.
The first two workshops took place on May 26 and 27, 2024, during the FemArt Festival, under the theme “Art, Activism, and Equality: The Intersection of Gender and Peacebuilding.” These workshops gathered participants from various communities in Kosovo and Serbia and were held at Dodona Theater in Prishtina. The sessions offered a powerful exploration of gender, human rights, and peacebuilding, fostering meaningful dialogue and artistic expression while challenging gender stereotypes.
Facilitated by Shpëtim Selmani (writer and actor) and Attila Antal (director and writer), the methodology focused on collecting qualitative data through “counter-narratives” and personal storytelling. These narratives served as the foundation for the collaborative creation of a theater performance.
The remaining four workshops were conducted at “Bedri Pejani” High School in Peja and the Music High School in Ferizaj under the theme “Exploring Gender Justice Through Theatre.”
Led by Berat Bajrami and Elira Lluka, certified and experienced youth workers, these workshops merged theater, activism, and social engagement to challenge gender injustices.
