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Two-day workshop Developing Audiences for Classical Music, organized by the International Festival Vox Baroque took place on 28th and 29th of March in Tirana, Albania.
The first part of the workshop has brought together representatives from Albanian local cultural sector Prof. Dr. Vasil S. Tole (composer, ethnomusicologist and Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania), Dr. Herida Duro (Director of Policies and Cultural Development Strategies, Ministry of Culture) and Mrs. Abigeila Voshtina (Advisor of the Minister of Youth), which discussed historical approach and different strategies regarding policies for a sustainable development and growth of classical music audiences.
We created a belief that the culture and arts are the expression of the aristocrats, intelligence, and that is sometimes even boring and, for this reason, nowadays we are obliged to talk to the public in different ways. It is important to build a relationship with many groups of interests and find good communication. Without an audience, art is a beautiful box without emotion and we did understand this part really well during the pandemic situation.
We need to talk, to give our emotions, to build a synergy and they need us to have a better life, good moments and knowledge.
The second session of the workshop focused on discussion about different approaches and methodologies used by the some of the most reputable festivals in the region KotorArt Don Branko´s Music Days (Kotor), Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Croatia), Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia), Belgrade Festivals Center (Serbia), Vox Baroque (Albania) and Chopin Piano Fest (Kosovo), when it comes to developing the audiences for classical music.
-We all have problems with the politics of our countries. Institutions don’t all follow the same direction and don’t recognize it as a way to educate the audience. Before Vox Baroque, no one in Albania knew what baroque music was, except the musicians. (..) People have a love for art, music, and education, but it needs to also have the strong hand of the government to come up with strategies to handle the field - Denis Bizga from International Festival Vox Baroque pointed out during his presentation.
