Poland in Albania

The Polish Cultural Week 2025 began on Monday, April 14, in the public space at the “Cloud” (Reja) installation in the center of Tirana, with a show of traditional Polish dances performed by the Song and Dance Ensemble “Silesianie” of the University of Economics in Katowice . Earlier that day, Polish dancers rehearsed with an Albanian folk dance ensemble (Ansambli i Këngëve e Valleve Popullore) and performed several dances together at the inaugural performance, including the "Polonaise", inviting the audience to dance as well. Thanks to the location of the event in a very popular public place, the performance attracted not only invited guests, but also many residents of Tirana and tourists. On the occasion of the Polish Week, the main artery of the city, connecting Skanderbeg Square with Mother Teresa Square, was decorated with Polish flags. The dance show was continued the next day with workshops for students of the Dance Department of the University of Arts, who learned to dance the "Trojak" and the "Polonaise" under the supervision of Polish dancers and a choreographer. The workshops were also very well received by students and teaching staff of the University of Arts.

Also on April 14, the award-winning Polish author and illustrator of children's books Monika Filipina led art workshops for children at the Puppet Theatre. Monika Filipina has written and illustrated over 50 books published worldwide in over 20 languages. On April 16, the author met with children, parents and representatives of Albanian publishing houses at Europe House to present a selection of her works. Each participant of the meeting received a book by Ms. Monika and a package of gifts from the embassy.

On April 15 and 16, the University of Arts hosted screenings of two Polish films - "Papusza" and "The Birds are singing in Kigali" with the participation of director Joanna Kos-Krauze. The screenings were also an opportunity for the audience to talk to the director. On April 17, Joanna Kos-Krauze led workshops for students from the Faculty of Theatre and Film at the University of Arts.

On April 17 and 18, two professional coaches from the Polish Volleyball Association, Szymon Szlendak and Dawid Krupa, led training sessions with a group of Albanian youth from the Ismail Qemali High School. During the training sessions, teams were selected to play the final match with teams trained by the Albanian Volleyball Association. The match took place in the sports hall at the Vasil Shanto Primary School. The Head of Mission, Wojciech Unolt, together with the Secretary General of the Albanian Volleyball Association, Ervis Dosti, presented cups to the winning teams and certificates of participation to all the young athletes.

The Polish Cultural Week ended with concerts by the Polish jazz band JAH Trio, performing as part of the International Jazz Festival in Albania. The band played on April 18 in Tirana, and the next day in Shkodra in the original line-up: Jan Jarecki - piano, Michał Aftyka - double bass, Marcin Sojka - drums. The concert in Tirana gathered a very large audience - jazz lovers, media, Poles working and living in Albania, and friends and supporters of Poland.

Information about the Polish Cultural Week was widely reported in the local media. The Charge' d'Affaires a.i. of Poland, Wojciech Unolt, also gave an interview on the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), the main topic of which was the Polish Cultural Week in Albania and the prospects for Albania's European integration.