“Ode to joy”, the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven played by the “The Door”, a band of musicians with special needs in Shkodra will celebrate Europe Week by the lake in Shiroka on May 4. International hits are also part of the performance which takes place in the pedestrian area where the scene will show a human ‘ode to joy’ in front of the castle, rising imposingly on the hill. An exhibition on Human Rights by local students, artisans fair and an artistic Performance by the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra at the Multi-functional Centre “Xixellonja” reconstructed by the EU4Municipalities will take place later in the city of culture. The evening gathers movie lovers in an open-air cinema in Shiroka, screening Swedish movie “Catwalk”, which explores the unusual journey of Ema, a disabled young woman dreaming to become a fashion model. 
Combining music, nature and special artists, Europe Week marks the launch of this year’s programme dedicated to Inclusiveness, Diversity and Human Rights.   

Colours and sounds, paintings and music, children and elder’s homes, musicians with special needs, a visually Inclusive Choir, Roma/Egyptian music band and Western Balkans Youth Orchestra have enriched the programme anticipated by an awareness campaign which promotes the diversity among us and celebrates all the cultures, sounds and voices of the society. Including different groups, ages and projects improving lives of persons with disabilities, the programme aims to showcase the beauty of heterogeneity on different aspects. 

In Gjirokastra on 6 of May at the Bazaar, two artistic performances will take place, one from Roma/Egyptian music band and the other by the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra bringing together traditional and classical music. Ahead of the concerts, the new Traditional Roma Crafts Market will be inaugurated ensuring the community to preserve their culture and work for their future. Considering Gjirokastra a city of cultural exchanges, a discussion highlighting ethnic and religious harmony of the communities, will show the ability of building bridges, emphasizing a local example of the global phenomenon of coexistence. In the evening, the city cinema, reconstructed by CBC IPA Interreg project, will open its doors to an Austrian movie, which recounts a story on lands in a remote valley in Albania and a spiritual farmer.  

In Tirana, May 7, Europe Week celebration starts with the inauguration of “Emin Duraku” school, reconstructed by EU4Schools project. It will be followed with an open discussion on “How could music(ians) and art(ists) create a better world?”. Exploring the Europe Week’s concept, this year’s Mural Wall, represents individuals as music notes and our relationships in the community interacting through circles in different colours and sizes.  It will be displayed on May 8 and it is painted by street artist Franko in cooperation with the students of the University of Fine Arts while a viola master class will be held at the university. In the evening, “The European Solidarity Football Match” at Sports Centre of Albanian Football Federation, will raise funds for “Streha”. 

Europe Day celebration, May 9, starts at Italia Square with an Artistic Performance of Visually Inclusive Choir supported by Creative Europe and Western Balkans Youth Orchestra. Tirana EU Fair will show the diversity of on-going European Union funded projects ensuring equality, inclusiveness and human rights in Albania and also promoting social inclusion, non-discrimination and support for people in need.  

Europe Day Concert will be held in the evening at the Concert Hall of the University of Arts by the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra conducted by Desar Sulejmani, who is also the initiator and co-founder of the orchestra. WBYO is a platform for young musicians which work across national, ethnic, religious, and cultural divides, contributing to ongoing cross-border and interethnic cooperation. It seeks to unite the region's youth, breaking down barriers and fostering long-lasting peace, featuring genres from classical to pop and rock music from all the sixth countries of Western Balkans. 

The visual concept of Europe Week is inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, a famous painter whose passion for music is known. And music is also the answer on this year’s Europe Week theme. Whole notes, half ones or quarters, they all are needed for the music, an even the rests in between. Human Rights, Diversity and inclusiveness are about accepting and enjoying all the sounds and colours, because exclusion of a single colour, would wipe down the rainbow. Considering differences as gifts is a process, in which we learn to appreciate all the fragments of the mosaic. Just a visionary eye would notice the whole image, same as in an orchestra, where all the instruments create the symphonies. As Kandinsky used to say, “Each colour lives by its mysterious life”. 

We will close Europe Week, on May 11, with Eurovision public screening of final evening at Italia Square enjoying Europe’s music with all of you.