CHwB Albania Annual Report
FiscalYear 2016
Organization number: L51915451S Table of contents
List of Acronyms 3 Executive Summary 4 2016 at a Glance 6 RBM Table 2016 7 Narrative: Key Objective 1 9 Narrative: Key Objective 2 13 Narrative: Key Objective 3 24 Other Initiatives 33 Risk Analysis 35 Management and Organization 37 Financial Overview 40 Deviations in Planning 42
All images © CHwB-Albania, unless otherwise noted Report published on: 31 March 2017 Front cover photo: Participants at the RRC in Gjirokastra (Sept 2016) share a view and a chat during a break from their work. Back cover photo: Consolidating painted wall plaster at the Regional Restoration Camp in Gjirokastra, September 2016. List of acronyms
AADF Albanian-American Development Foundation B+CARE Balkan Cultural Aid Response for Emergencies BMN Balkan Museum Network CHwB Cultural Heritage without Borders–Albania CSO Civil Society Organization EKKEK ‘E KA KUSH E KA’ children’s activity series FASC Fulbright Alumni Service Corps HWB Heritage Without Borders (UK) ICCROM Int'l Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property ICOMOS-ICORP Int'l Council on Monuments and Sites – Int'l Committee on Risk Preparedness ICSC International Coalition of Sitse of Conscience MC Albanian Ministry of Culture MSWY Albanian Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth NAVETAQ National Agency for Vocational Education, Training and Qualifications OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe RBM Results Based Management RDNC Regional Directorate of National Culture RRC Regional Restoration Camps SME Small and Medium Enterprises USEYC United States Embassy Youth Council VET Vocational Education and Training
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 3 Executive summary
In 2016, Cultural Heritage without Borders Albania has interpretation and personal development. The taken over the activities and the legacy of its Swedish Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Ministry mother foundation. The transition process was of Culture, University of Tirana and AADF is creating, for concluded last year, following the local registration of the first time, employment opportunities for young CHwB Albania back in 2015. During the period from professionals who have successfully completed a January-July 2016, CHwB Albania signed eight financial minimum of four Camps as a part of their Masters level agreements with a total value of 2.1million EUR, securing education in cultural heritage management. funding for the strategic period of 2016 to 2020. The current donors include the Swedish Government, Gjirokastra is looking into 5 pilot projects designed to German Government, Albanian-American Development further boost its cultural heritage potential, through a Foundation (AADF), Prince Claus Fund, Stavros Niarchos holistic development approach. Foundation, Headley Trust and American Embassy in Tirana. With support from the Prince Claus Fund, the first Balkan Cultural Aid Response for Emergencies (B+CARE) During 2016, CHwB Albania focused its work around training was held in Gjirokastra, in cooperation with the three key objectives: Urban Development Centre from Serbia. Following this successful experience, a regional 3-week training in ● The cooperation between the State and the civil disaster risk management for cultural heritage has society is strengthened followed later in the year. This training was organized ● Cultural heritage is valued and utilized as a social, back to back in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and economic, cultural and environmental resource for Albania and, for the first time, hosted participants from local communities the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and Eastern ● Regional cooperation serves as the platform for Europe regions. This valuable initiative aims to integrate building peaceful relations for responsible cultural heritage into national emergency response preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage frameworks in disaster situations. As a part of this in the Western Balkans, with effects felt beyond the program, CHwB Albania is developing an innovative region method of using the renewable water resources available in Gjirokastra’s historical cisterns to fight fires within the 2016 was a strong year for CHwB Albania, with the historical city. organization taking an ever more prominent role in promoting a rights-based approach to working with In late 2016, the vocational education and training cultural heritage. Highlights from the year include: program on “Traditional Repair Techniques,” supported by the Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and A record 7 Regional Restoration Camps were organized Regional Development of the Federal Province of in 6 locations. The new partnership with the Swedish Hessen (Germany) through GIZ, started off strong with Government and AADF allowed for extending the 65 master craftspeople and apprentices in attendance. teaching topics to include entrepreneurship and growth This is the first such training in Albania since the mindset, as well as a more robust focus on heritage communist period. The training program would lead to 4 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 the certification of craftspeople in Albania, improving architectural consolidation works on the site. The their employment conditions and increasing employment consolidation efforts would be twinned with organized opportunities. educational visits to the site, which would develop a safe itinerary for visitors while documenting the testimonies Dozen of children’s Heritage Ateliers were conducted of former political prisoners and integrating them into across the country, using activities developed for the E the interpretation of the site. KA KUSH E KA series. New items were added to the collection, one featuring the traditional male dress The team of CHwB Albania now numbers 16 members, fustanella, explained in a way that challenges traditional working from two base offices: Tirana and Gjirokastra. gender roles. The team is fully supported by the active Board of the organization, which met twice in 2016 and gives valuable Artisans of Kruja were boosted in their everyday efforts insights and paths for development. as a part of the continuous upgrade of the Bazaar of Kruja, supported by AADF. Through this cooperation, In 2016, CHwB Albania’s work gathered around 650 188 new products and 32 product lines were developed young professionals, apprentices, children, students, and together with the artisans. This helps the artisans improve artisans from about 15 countries. Around 70 consultants their sales and keep up with market challenges by have supported the many efforts of the organization in integrating traditional methods and motifs with 2016, and they are continuing to help. contemporary product demands. Without the tremendous support of our donors, our Dealing with Albania’s communist past was the subject of partners, our consultants and all our participants, the many national and local conversations in 2016. One of work would not move forward. the sites representing that past and designated as a protected monument is the former prison of Spaç, In saying this, we would like to extend our profound where CHwB Albania will soon conduct the first ever gratitude.
CHwB Albania 31 March 2017
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 5 2016 at a glance
Regional Restoration Camps 2016 Holistic Approach for Gjirokastra 7 Camps in 6 locations in 3 countries 1 business concept/plan for tourism development 10 local craftspeople approved by monument owners 13 volunteers 3 pilot projects begun implementation 29 Craftspeople/Artisans/Conservators/Group Leaders 4 intervention plans completed (one for each of the 54 Lecturers from 14 countries monuments identified) 158 participants from 11 countries 5 pilot projects designed 5 interpretation ideas developed 10 monuments surveyed and 4 identified as suitable for 5 business plans developed businesses 16 restoration interventions 25 museum objects conserved E KA KUSH E KA 6,948 hours of hands-on work 1 new item added to the children’s collection 5 different cities located in Albania and Kosovo B+CARE 8 educational institutions partnering for the ateliers 1 network launched + website created 13 Heritage Ateliers held 2 volunteer trainings (one 5-day + one 3-week) 273 children and 72 adults (teachers, educators and 29 local and international trainers from 9 countries parents) involved 45 participants from 11 countries Dialogues for Spaç Crafting Access 1 proposal for the enlargement of the protected area 3 models for accessible museum exhibitions developed submitted to the authorities 12 participants from the Gjirokastra – Ioannina regions 1 set of emergency on-site stabilization interventions (5 from Albania, 7 from Greece) submitted to the authorities 1 workshop held with experts from 2 int'l partners VET 3 coordination meetings with an extended group of 1 national curricula developed and approved stakeholders 1 module of 6 months started simultaneously in 3 cities 7 partnering institutions Media Outreach 64 trainees 6 new social media accounts opened (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, ISSU, Pinterest) Artizanët e Krujës (Artisans of Kruja) ~50 reports on local, national & regional TV 9 artisans involved ~250 web and print articles mentioning CHwB-Albania 32 new product lines launched 8,320 followers on Facebook (tripled from 2015) 188 new products developed 39,726 unique visitors to chwb.org/albania for a total of 256,733 visits
6 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 RBM table 2016
The cooperation between the State and civil society is strengthened (COUNTRY Key Objective1 SPECIFIC COMPONENT 1) Both the central and the local government are accountable advocates of cultural and natural Specific Objective 1.1 heritage preservation Increased managerial & technical capacities and communication within the public institutions at both Outcome 1.1 municipal and central level Output Managerial trainings & technical support provided regularly Joint identification of priorities, analysis and strategic planning for the holistic development of Outcome 1.3 Gjirokastra and Berat are consolidated and lead to concrete projects’ implementation Output Technical working groups in charge of planning and implementation are operative Output On-going field investigations used as instrument for research Cultural heritage is valued and utilized as a social, economic, cultural and environmental Key Objective 2 resource for local communities (COUNTRY SPECIFIC COMPONENT 2) CHwB-Albania plays an active role in the process of bridging cultural heritage aspects with Specific Objective 2.1 sustainable economic development initiatives and promotes actions, which encompass a rights- based approach to cultural heritage, equitable growth and social development Increased awareness of the values of our historical environment through a continuous work with Outcome 2.2 young population and their mentors Children and adults have access to simple, accessible, inclusive and engaging educational tools that Output teach about and promote cultural heritage in the community (children’s books, scholarly articles, practical/how-to books) Children and adults continuously engaged in activities directly teaching about values of historical Output environment Monument owners and cultural heritage professionals work together to sensibly preserve the Outcome 2.3 cultural heritage Monuments professionally repaired with active participation of monument owners are used as a Output training field Output Usage of renewable resources re-established in historical structures The heritage-based business environment is strengthened due also to the dwellers’ improved Outcome 2.4 knowledge of heritage-conservation aspects and their link to the market. The vocational training module for the certification of craftspeople is running, and the Output certification system provided by NAVETQ is in place Output Local ownership increased and a number of locally-based entrepreneurs in heritage supported Heritage sites are a platform for new narratives accommodating mature relation of a society to its Outcome 2.5 traumatic past Output Platform for dialogue created for all relevant stakeholders Output New narrative created for the monument of culture and a former forced labour camp, Spaç
RBM Table 2016 continued on next page...
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 7 Regional cooperation serves as the platform for building peaceful relations for responsible Key Objective 3 preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage in theWestern Balkans, with effects felt beyond the region(REGIONAL COMPONENT) Regional trainings (RRC & seminars) take the most effective approach, based on active learning Specific Objective 3.1 and growth mindset, in order to address real heritage needs,including conservation, promotion and interpretation of cultural heritage across borders of the WB region and beyond Enlarged Regional Restoration Camps scheme is a provider of accredited growth mindset based Outcome 3.1 education leading to increased employment opportunities Output Efficient coordination of RRC in 4 countries Output Professionals trained through RRC employed 25 RRC implemented in the region, a promoter of high standards in approach to heritage issues Output lead to empowerment and active engagement Pool of conservation projects, interpretation models and innovative revitalization of artisanship are Outcome 3.2 development stimuli for localities where camps are hosted Number of conserved sites and artifacts in the region lead to sustainable strategies to heritage Output preservation Alumni network of RRC is a proactive pool of professionals tackling burning issues of cultural Outcome 3.3 heritage preservation across the region Alumni of RRC engaged in developing capacities in emergency response and first aid to cultural Output heritage in times of crisis Camps alumni, museums and university partners can access lectures and reflections from Regional Output Restoration Camps through a Web portal to disseminate the knowledge Networks of cultural heritage professionals extended across borders, aiding reconciliation of Outcome 3.4 divided communities in the Balkans and beyond Output Craftspeople from Kosovo train young professionals in Serbia and vice versa Consistent pool of top-level consultants and craftspeople regularly involved in implementing Output trainings Balkan Museum Network(BMN) is a platform for linking civil and public institutions across Specific Objective 3.2 borders through innovative and proactive approaches to interpretation and presentation of common cultural assets. BMN plays an active role in training young professionals and enabling Balkan museums to become Outcome 3.5 promoters of access and the right to culture for all people Regular meetings of the Board of BMN ensures regular implementation of activities and the Output representation of museums in regional activities Innovative access and interpretation tools developed through RRC platform engaging Output professionals and craftspeople Output BMN serves as a platform for active, open, accessible and entrepreneurial museums
Photo on next page: Members of local and national institutions in Gjirokastra spend time in the castle as a part of planning for its interpretation. 8 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Key Objective 1
Strengthening cooperation between civil society and the state
9 Narrative: Key Objective 1 The cooperation between the State and civil society is strengthened
Specific Objective 1.1 Both the central and the local government are accountable advocates of cultural and natural heritage preservation
Outcome 1.1: Increased managerial & technical collaboration among authorities and from the current capacities and communication within the public political inertia, which hinders the decision-making institutions at both municipal and central level. process. The above authorities have consulted CHwB Outcome 1.2: Policy makers work collaboratively on various times on issues regarding the design and the process of public action and policy framework for implementation of projects, initiated by the request of the heritage assets. international donors. The team has worked with the Outcome 1.3: Joint identification of priorities, analysis municipality on strengthening its technical capacities (i.e. and strategic planning for the holistic development of project design and proposal writing), but concrete Gjirokastra and Berat are consolidated and lead to improvements are yet to be seen. concrete projects’ implementation. Realizing Gjirokastra’s economic potential: Case studies Financed by: Sweden and planning for 5 upcoming pilot projects Five pilot projects have been identified and designed CHwB’s strategy ‘A holistic approach to safeguard according to on-the-spot consultations and analysis of Gjirokastra: Sustainable development through the needs of the city in collaboration with the local community based tourism,’ which resulted from a authorities in Gjirokastra, namely the Municipality thorough appraisal of Gjirokastra’s old city and its needs, (Department of Tourism) and the Regional Directorate has been used as the base for discussions with the local for National Culture (a subordinate unit of the Ministry authorities. The scope was to increase both the of Culture, in charge of preservation, monitoring and managerial and technical capacities of the local management of cultural heritage in Gjirokastra). The authorities, namely the Municipality (Department of pilots are all interconnected with each other and Tourism) and the Regional Directorate for National designed in order to underpin the holistic development Culture in Gjirokastra. CHwB’s technical support in those of the old town. They have been presented to the above working meetings led towards the joint identification of authorities and their implementation discussed. priorities and strategic planning, which resulted in the development of tangible pilot projects in the field of Pilot 1: Adaptive re-use of the monument houses tourism development and adaptive re-use of historical On-the-spot consultations suggested that the type of buildings. tourists visiting Gjirokastra would be indeed enthusiastic to experience life in the old town. The current However, a great challenge emerged in the lack of accommodation in the old city is limited to a few 10 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 monument houses turned into hotels. For this reason, CHwB supports the development of accommodation QUOTABLE... facilities and the re-use of monument houses. The aim of this pilot is two-pronged: 1) to invest directly in the “Cities like Gjirokastra, where there are rehabilitation of historic buildings to be converted into few employment opportunities, flourish guesthouses and other facilities for tourists; 2) to support with the support and expertise CHwB the growth of local micro-enterprises active in the interventions give to the city. Monument tourism sector. The project attempts to attract “quality” owners have an opportunity to create visitors (both national and international), with higher businesses and projects around their incomes and broader interests (i.e. cultural and natural). beloved monuments and ensure the legacy can be shared with others.”
The activities undertaken are: – Arunima Singh, Business Development, ● After the development of selection criteria and the Yunus Social Business Albania consultation with various monument owners four monument houses have been identified. ● For each of the monuments both a short- and a mid- Pilot 3: Product development in the field of community- term intervention plan has been developed. based tourism ● A business concept suitable for the old town and its The aim of this pilot is to extend the length of tourist inhabitants (including a business plan) are in place. visits in Gjirokastra, which currently do not exceed two days according to our latest assessment. After the The findings of both the suggested physical interventions completion of an inventory of the local resources, the and the business concept have been shared with and team developed different thematic itineraries (tourism approved by the four monument owners. products) targeting multiple audiences with the goal of connecting the city’s main attractions. This initiative is in In order to spread CHwB’s multidisciplinary approach to combination with the cultural and natural interpretation cultural heritage preservation, CHwB presented the of the castle (Pilot 5) as it connects the city and its paper “Albania: Where Restoration Merges with Cultural surrounding with the fortress by stressing its potential as Tourism and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development. a distinctive tourism attraction for the whole region. The A Case Study” at the 5th International Conference on team is outlining a tourist map of the city, which includes Heritage and Sustainable Development organized by the various tours and encompasses common tourist Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development in offerings. The latter considers the expectations of the Portugal. audience, the local authorities and the local enterprises and aims at establishing a network with sound Pilot 2: Vocational training education in the field of cooperation among the stakeholders. tourism and hospitality The implementation of this pilot will be tackled from Pilot 4. Marketing and digital marketing 2017 onwards, and its scope is to enhance the capacities The implementation of this pilot will be tackled in 2018. of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) active in The aim of the project is to strengthen the reputation the tourism industry or willing to engage in it. In joint and e-reputation of Gjirokastra as a destination for cooperation with the municipality of Gjirokastra, the national and international tourists. Some of the topics the Regional Directorate of Education and the University of project will bring into focus are: Web marketing, event Gjirokastra (Tourism Management Faculty), various planning and social media; marketing communication for trainings will be designed and implemented in order to tourism destination and hospitality services; information reach a minimum international standard for tourism system and mobile applications. services (i.e. food, catering, hospitality, hygiene).
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 11 Above: Views showing one of the rooms of the historic Angoni House in Gjirokastra, which is envisioned as one possible location for a future bed and breakfast. The original space (left) is in need of restoration and furnishing. A digital render (right) shows one possible look for the room, once it will be made ready for visitors.
Pilot 5.The cultural and natural interpretation of the CHALLENGES castle of Gjirokastra This project tackles both the natural and cultural The major challenge faced regard the mind-set of the interpretation of the castle in Gjirokastra, which is key to local community in Gjirokastra. A great number of the development of the old and new town and its monument owners are reluctant to engage in the economic growth. Preliminary investigations and planning tourism sector and continue to remain idle, despite meetings have been conducted together with Philippe requests to become involved in income-generating Théou (expert on bats in Europe) and Ilir Parangoni activities that will also have a beneficial impact on the (archaeologist and expert in heritage tourism), which led preservation of their monument. Moreover, officials to the planning of the first workshop, to be held in seem to reach inconclusive decisions due to widespread February 2017. The objectives of this workshop will be lack of competence in the field of tourism development to: and destination management. These hinder the 1. Present the principles of interpretation (including implementation of some of the activities run by CHwB. co-interpretation of cultural and natural heritage); The team therefore will engage even more prominently 2. Identify the goals of this interpretation project; in community engagement and behaviour change 3. Identify audiences and themes for the interpretation communication. It will also focus on capacity of the castle of Gjirokastra; development with the local bodies to strengthen their 4. Plan possible itineraries in the castle and connecting abilities to design and manage sustainable intervention on the castle to the city and its surroundings; the above-mentioned issues. 5. Specify/clarify the roles of the institutions present and next steps for the process. Photo on next page: Two pupils from Elena Gjika Elementary School in Prishtina proudly showcase their resemblance with one of the illustrations of the Xhubleta booklet of the E KA KUSH E KA collection. 12 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Key Objective 2 Cultural heritage as a resource for local communities
13 Narrative: Key Objective 2 Cultural heritage is valued and utilized as a social, economic, cultural and environmental resource for local communities
Specific Objective 2.1 CHwB-Albania plays an active role in the process of bridging cultural heritage aspects with sustainable economic development initiatives and promotes actions, which encompass a rights-based approach to cultural heritage, equitable growth and social development
heritage of Gjirokastra. The most enduring way of doing this is through a series of interpretive panels, resources and activities, which will be developed beginning in 2017.
2. Children’s materials: As we have seen in the past, producing interpretive products for children is a great way to reach even further within the local community. For this reason, a major interpretive component of Outcome 2.1 will be realized through links with the “E Ka Kush E Ka” educational activities for children (see Outcome 2.2). Working with Gjirokastra’s teachers and children on biodiversity and cultural heritage for the castle of Gjirokastra will increase community participation and awareness while helping to fine-tune the other interpretation outputs.
3. Holistic development of Gjirokastra: Since the castle of Gjirokastra serves as a hub when it comes to tourism in the city, it is crucial for the castle’s interpretation to be integrated into the overall holistic development of the city and the Drino Valley. In support of this, the interpretation of Gjirokastra Castle is one of the five pilot projects foreseen in Outcome 1.3. Linking the interpretation of the castle with other initiatives and pilot projects in Gjirokastra strengthens the impact of all of them, while helping Gjirokastra become a place where visitors stay longer and thus contribute more to the local 14 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 economy. HERITAGE INTERPRETATION Activities completed in 2016 Interpretation is a fast-growing specialization In 2016, several preparatory meetings about the within the museum and heritage fields that helps interpretation of the castle of Gjirokastra were held with museum curators and site managers better local partners, including the Regional Directorate of communicate the value of heritage to their National Culture—Gjirokastra, the Municipality of visitors. It is about connecting people and place, Gjirokastra and consultants on the natural and cultural bringing the past into the present, creating heritage of the area. These meetings laid the foundation interactive learning experiences and opening up for more intensive work on the interpretation of the to critical reflection. Interpretation uses such castle of Gjirokastra starting in 2017 with a workshop techniques as storytelling, guides, panels, engaging local partners and stakeholders. creative installations and electronic media to help audiences discover the values of heritage. CHALLENGES
Active local contribution: Interpretation is all about connecting people to heritage; could slow down progress on this outcome. The therefore, it is essential to build something together with Regional Directorates of National Culture fall under the the local community. In this respect, one of the Ministry of Culture, which means that its director (and challenges for this program is encouraging and facilitating even many of the staff) tend to be political appointees. sustained active contributions from local institutions and Should the party in power on the national level change stakeholders, when it comes to producing interpretive this year, then the local staff at the regional directorate products for the castle of Gjirokastra. will change, as well. The risk is that this delays the interpretation project, as the new director and staff re- Upcoming elections: evaluate their priorities. The mitigation for this (as well as Given the eager endorsement of this project from the the above-listed challenge) is to include as many local Regional Directorate of National Culture (RDNC) in partners as possible in the process and enthusiastically Gjirokastra, the upcoming national elections in June 2017 engage any new actors that may enter the equation.
Below left: Tour guide and archaeologist Ilir Parangoni leads local stakeholders on a tour of the castle, during the CHwB workshop on interpretation in February 2017. Below right: One of a few dozen bats found wintering in the castle. During the summer months, the castle hosts some 4,000 bats, several species of which are protected at the national and European level. Photo courtesy Philippe Théou.
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 15 Outcome 2.2: Increased awareness of the values of our Nine ateliers were organized in Gjirokastra, both within historical environment through a continuous work with the urban centre and rural areas, to provide equal young population and their mentors opportunities to the children of the region. This cooperation with Gjirokastra entailed continuous E Ka Kush E Ka Children's Activity Series coordination and informational meetings with teachers, educators and facilitators from different educational Financed by: Sweden; Headley Trust institutions, and with the public officials of the National Directorate for Education. These activities were used for In 2016, CHwB-Albania organized 13 Heritage Ateliers assessing the needs and collecting views on the with schoolchildren. The sustained interested for this usefulness of the E KA KUSH E KA collection. The type of activity is represented by the following feedback that was obtained seems to indicate that such engagement numbers: 273 children and 72 adults, mostly items that serve as basis for practical activities are very educators, teachers, heritage professionals and parents necessary and should be part of the national curricula. coming from different regions of Albania and Kosovo (e.g. Gjirokastra, Berat, Prishtina and Tirana). In Gjirokastra several ateliers were held in cooperation with the Fato Berberi In terms of the content Children’s Cultural Centre, QUOTABLE... provided, a new item was where the staff was CHwB's Heritage Atelier at the Autism Centre in added to the collection, particularly active and skilled Gjirokastra on November 16 Fustanella: The Albanian in animating the ateliers. Fashion of Dresses for There seems to be mutual CHwB staff: “Kristi, would you like to do Men. Using the traditional interest in continuing and another activity that tells about Gjirokastra dress called fustanella, strengthening cooperation. In and its beautiful monument houses?” this item invites children Tirana, CHwB has identified Kristi (9 years old): “Yes,I would like to... but and adults into dialogue and worked closely with can I take this home with me?” on gender stereotypes. Androkli Kostallari The collaboration with elementary school, on the the thematic consultant for the fustanella item provided outskirts of the city. The pedagogical staff is currently the opportunity to work with this consultant for working with kids from the area of Shkoza – one of the additional activities (the B+CARE training, see Outcome poorest areas in Tirana – and offers extra-curricular 3.3). An additional thematic consultant was contacted activities to keep the children of the area off the streets. and invited to work on the next item of the collection, Heritage Ateliers fit well with the pedagogical staff’s which is focused on mosaics. CHwB has also been asked intentions and with the priorities of CHwB-Albania, by various professionals to collaborate on different ideas namely the specific focus that was put on marginalised (including graphic novels and scale models). communities.
An additional booklet was produced in 2016 in relation In summary, Heritage Ateliers were organized with to the specific needs of the Ethnographic Museum in children from rural areas of Tirana (Petrela, Persqop) and Gjirokastra. The process involved 2 experts from United Gjirokastra (Shën Todër), Roma community from the Kingdom specialised in object conservation and in peripheral areas of Gjirokastra (Blloku i Furrave, interpretation. Their work was funded by the Headley Zinxhirat) and Tirana (Shkoza), and children with special Trust. In addition, 5 items (instead of 2 as initially needs and related specialized teachers (Autism Centre in planned) of the existing E KA KUSH E KA collection were Gjirokastra). In addition, several ateliers have been improved and re-printed to support the growing demand provided to children at the same time that the Regional for heritage ateliers. Restoration Camps were happening in Berat, Gjirokastra
16 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 and Prishtina, as a way to raise curiosity about heritage calendar aimed at working directly and continuously with professions from childhood (for example: the ‘little the same educators, teachers or specialists on heritage craftsmen’ activities held at the Babaramo and Toro interpretation and education. In order to be more houses in Gjirokastra). effective on this aspect, we will need to look at the work plan together with the teaching staff and establish a joint CHALLENGES calendar of ateliers/workshops to increase compliance with curricula and maximize the impact of ateliers Lack of graphic/illustration expertise: (knowledge about cultural heritage from practical The continuous design and production of new, high- activities, visits and discussions). quality items is challenged by the lack of graphic illustration expertise currently in the market. To mitigate Lack of logistics: this difficulty, several meetings have been conducted Another difficulty has been schools’ lack of the necessary either with professionals or with the heads of Masters logistical capabilities, which has prevented rural children programs in design to be able to identify skilled from getting to know heritage sites which are very close collaborators. to them. Thus, while working in Shën Todër — a mere 10 km from Gjirokastra, Making a joint calendar: children responded QUOTABLE... The attitude of the negatively to the question teaching staff, educators, CHwB's Heritage Atelier at Kindergarten No. 6 about whether they had teachers or specialists is (Blloku i furrave) in Gjirokastra on June 9 visited the city's historic different as a result of monument houses. “I’ve seen traditional costumes because my difficulties related to their Meanwhile, we learned friend has one, but I have never seen these respective annual work from teachers that ones from the North, which is why I want to plans. This has made it a excursions to Gjirokastra draw it and then show it to my mom.” challenge to set up a are almost impossible. – Viki, kindergartener
Outcome 2.3: Monument owners and cultural heritage Directorate of National Culture (RDNC) in Gjirokastra, professionals work together to sensibly preserve the contribute to improving the living conditions of the cultural heritage monument owners and the community, salvaging valuable authentic elements of the monuments and Output: Monuments professionally repaired with active improving the overall situation in the historical core of participation of monument owners are used as a training the city. The interventions are also contributing to a field larger-scale program, part of a holistic approach to the socio-economic development of Gjirokastra and Financed by: Sweden; Albanian-American Development preservation of its built heritage. The monuments Foundation selected for intervention are either on the list of priorities of the RDNC (e.g. Toro and Xhaxhiu monuments), Eight restoration interventions were implemented during priorities of the Municipality (the restoration of the the 27th and 31st Regional Restoration Camps (RRC) in cobblestone “Street of Mad”), or monuments that will Gjirokastra. These interventions, in combination with the host services and facilities related to tourism, such as bed maintenance interventions done by the Regional & breakfasts. CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 17 Types of interventions included stone works (roof The interventions undertaken under this output, with coverings, cobbled streets), wood works (roofs additional support from the Prince Claus Fund, aim to structures, entrance doors) and plaster works (façades revitalize the traditional system of collecting rain water and interior surfaces). within the historical houses of Gjirokastra and to make this water available for the firefighting system. Fire is one The works were done together with the contributions of of the biggest risks for Gjirokastra’s built heritage and the Regional Directorate and the monument owners, throughout the city’s history many monuments have according to MoU’s and contracts signed with them disappeared because of fire. respectively. Besides the restoration works needed in order to make Due to additional support from the Albanian-American the water collection system functional, the proposal Development Foundation (AADF), a Regional includes the installation of pumps and a network of Restoration Camp was organized for the first time in hydrants, which will draw on the rain water collected in Berat, the twin city of Gjirokastra on the World Heritage the water cisterns for fire protection of the monument List. The 5 interventions implemented during the 30th itself, as well as the surrounding monuments. RRC in Berat were selected from the list of priorities of the Regional Directorate for National Culture in Berat. The process of identifying possible monuments to The restoration works were focused on the traditional intervene was based on several criteria: coverage of all materials of stone, wood and plaster through neighbourhoods within the historical centre, the interventions in the historical neighbourhoods of Berat importance and values of the monuments, presence of a and conservation of the wall paintings in one of the most functional water cistern, number of surrounding famous churches of Berat Castle. The finalized works and monuments to be covered by the fire extinguisher the whole training were very well accepted by the local system in case of fire, accessibility of monuments and authorities and the monument owners, opening the way water supply in the neighbourhood. This analysis was to further collaboration in the city of Berat. followed by a meeting with the stakeholders, which was organized in the CHwB office in Gjirokastra. Those In both cities, local craftspeople were involved in leading present included the monument owners, the Municipality the practical works. In this way, the RRCs are contributing of Gjirokastra, the fire department of the city and the not only by engaging local masters but also by preserving Regional Directorate of National Culture (RDNC) in the intangible knowledge of crafts. Gjirokastra.
Three historical monuments will be restored in the cities Several meetings have been organized between the of Berat, Gjirokastra and Korça as part of the practical CHwB team, the fire department of the city, the RDNC module of the Vocational Training on Crafts. CHwB and a mechanical engineer so as to decide on the best together with the Regional Directorates of National possible solution for the system to be installed, as well as Culture in the three cities have been discussing the the final selection of the monuments where the systems selection of monuments to be restored. Currently, the will be installed. architects of CHwB and the regional directorates are preparing the restoration proposals. Currently the mechanical engineer is finalizing the execution project for the installation of pumps and Output: Usage of renewable resources re-established in hydrants in two monuments. The installation of the historical structures systems and workshops with the community members and the local fire department on first aid response incase Financed by: Sweden; Prince Claus Fund of fire will be implemented within the first half of2017.
18 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Above: Craftspeople and apprentices visit the rock quarry in Sinja, Berat as a part of the vocational training program launched by CHwB.
Outcome 2.4: The heritage-based business As a part of an overall attempt to approve the curricula, environment is strengthened due also to the dwellers’ in late July, CHwB Albania met the Minister of Social improved knowledge of heritage-conservation aspects Welfare and Youth, who has expressed the willingness of and their link to the market. his Ministry to support this effort.
Output: The vocational training module for the certification The MSWY approved the curriculum on November 10. of craftspeople is running, and the certification system In order to stimulate participatory and active engagement provided by NAVETQ is in place from both the Ministry of Culture (MC) and the MSWY, a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed and signed Financed by: Sweden; Ministry of Economics, Energy, by a total of 8 institutions on December 12. The co- Transport and Regional Development of the State of Hesse, signers of the MoU included: four subordinate institutions Germany via GIZ of the Ministry of Culture (including the Regional Directorates of National Culture from Gjirokastra, Korça The creation of a vocational training course for and Berat; and the Institute of Monuments of Culture in craftspeople was initiated by developing curricula for the Tirana), three subordinate institutions of the Ministry of individual training modules. Social Welfare and Youth (including the Regional Training Centres in Korça and Gjirokastra; and Stiliano In April and June, 2 workshops were held, in order to Bandili Professional High School in Berat), and CHwB define the curriculum. German, Swedish and Albanian Albania. experts attended the workshops. The training curriculum was planned so that it would be implemented in parallel A new project coordinator was selected, in order to in 3 historical cities: Gjirokastra, Korça and Berat. The enable full-time follow-up of the training on behalf of curriculum was delivered to NAVETAQ in early August. CHwB Albania. CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 19 The training was announced, and participants were The entrepreneurs were further exposed to similar drafted through digital and print newspaper practices by participating in 3 study tours, where they announcements. All partners also shared notifications on visited the historic bazaars of Ioannina, Greece and their social media channels. Altogether 86 applications Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and participated in the were received, and 64 were selected to attend the Christmas Fair in Skopje, Macedonia. training course. The first course started on December 20 and will last until June 23, 2017. The second course will The two latter visits were added to the original program commence in early April 2017 and is anticipated to last of the project, as the team addressed the group of until the end of October. artisans’ need for more international experiences and exchanges. The approval of the curricula by the MSWY ensures that participants will be certified upon completion of the During the project, 188 new products and 32 new training. product lines were developed. Some of the designs were developed and refined throughout the project in order Discussions have also been initiated with the Institute of to better answer the desires and taste of the artisans. Monuments of Culture, in order to reflect the certification of craftspeople in the conditions of The promotion of the new products was boosted by employment at subordinate institutions of the MC, and developing a specific brand and its accompanying to facilitate employment opportunities for those promotional materials, such as booklets, business leaflets craftspeople who are participating in the course. Further for each artisan, product labels and product bags of activities would focus on defining the conditions for different sizes. These materials were targeted toward employment and qualifications in the regulatory bylaws artisans both as individual entrepreneurs and as the within the new law on cultural heritage and museums (to associated group of artisans in the bazaar of Kruja. be approved in April 2017), taking into consideration the certification obtained during the vocational training Promotional materials were also developed in the last course. phase of the project, to insure a continuity of the production by the artisans and their stronger inclusion in Output: Local ownership increased and a number of locally the local market. Newly-developed products were based entrepreneurs in heritage supported exhibited in two separate events—one marking the finalization of the production phase and the other Financed by: Sweden; Albanian-American Development marking the visit of the Minister of Urban Development, Foundation Ms. Eglantina Gjermeni to the artisans in Kruja.
Locally based entrepreneurs in Kruja are being supported CHALLENGES & SHIFTS IN PERSPECTIVE through a 13-month program in product development, marketing, and developing entrepreneurship skills. What challenged the project the most in its initial phase was the mind-set of the artisans involved. All of them The 9 local entrepreneurs have gone through 8 have many years of experience as artisans and possess consultation workshop meetings with a Macedonian great skills in their hands, but they have not yet fully artisan who supported the Kruja entrepreneurs in developed their entrepreneurial skills. On the other hand, product design, costing and pricing, as well as product the association TID Kruja is still young and is the first one display. In addition to this, an Albanian artisan followed gathering the shop and business owners of the bazaar. the progress of the work and mentored local Through years of competing in the same market with the entrepreneurs on production of handcrafts, materials and same products, the artisans did not have the best of techniques used — through 18 workshop sessions. relationship among each other.
20 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 In these conditions, it was difficult to make the artisans highly appreciated by the artisans. Other activities understand the role of each partner involved, including organized by CHwB Albania in Kruja, such as the 26th themselves, as well as the need for the diversification of RRC, also helped build CHwB's profile in their eyes. the products that they offer. Multiple individual sessions Through the implementation of the project there was a were held with each of them in order to build a clear clear change of attitude from the artisans. Many of them relationship based on common trust, and many designs produced many new products, changed their shop were adapted to better address their individual display and addressed issues of packaging, branding and preferences. The study trips helped clarify the needs and marketing beyond what was done for them through the possibilities of business development, and they were project.
QUOTABLE...
“The project ‘Artisans of Kruja’ has been really well-thought, as it has supported us towards the development of handicrafts that combine traditions, which should not be lost, with contemporary design that attracts the younger generation.”
– Dëshire Maja, kilim-maker, Kruja
Outcome 2.5: Heritage sites are a platform for new dialogue among the parties. Relevant in these terms is the narratives accommodating mature relation of a society fact that representatives of the mining company that is to its traumatic past entitled to exploit Spaç mine attended the meeting of January 14, 2016 and presented to the stakeholders their 'Dialogues for Spaç' future plans about Spaç. In a local context where there is a lack of dialogue between parties whose interests are Financed by: Sweden; International Coalition of Sites of opposed, this meeting showed the importance that this Conscience type of platform can play in terms of fostering social cohesion and dealing with the difficult past. In 2016, the Spaç Prison stakeholders’ meetings have continued with the intention of forming a coordinated Special attention was accorded in 2016 to providing the body of actors engaged in the preservation of this group of stakeholders with needed expertise about monument. An additional 3 meetings have been memorialization processes, in order to broaden the facilitated by CHwB-Albania with the aim of fostering understanding of “sites of conscience” (which has yet to dialogue and coordination among a diverse array of 13 take root in the local context) and in relation to memory, stakeholders (including several Ministries and subordinate transitional justice and democracy building. For this institutions, local and international NGOs, human rights purpose, a joint workshop was organized with activists and former political prisoners in Spaç). The representatives of the International Coalition of Sites of group has included also new members from OSCE in Conscience (US) and the Hrant Dink Foundation Albania, representatives of businesses, researchers and (Turkey) who brought to the group’s consideration additional CSOs, such as OTTOnomy. different useful examples, theories and tools. The experience acquired through this workshop was Given the sustained and active participation from the intended to fuel a second workshop, aimed at different stakeholders and the quality of discussions, it disseminating the examples and lessons learned to all can be said that these meetings constitute a valid identified stakeholders. Unfortunately, this opportunity platform for information, coordination, and most of all of for collective learning has not yet been undertaken since CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 21 Above: CHwB-Albania staff perform a survey at Spaç Prison on February 2, 2016, in order to determine the extent of the prison's perimeter by locating the remains of watchtowers and fencing. most of the stakeholders have granted a higher priority priorities, postponing the ‘memorialization concept for to the current state of the monument and the recent Spaç’ in order to anticipate emergency interventions developments around it (see below). aimed at prolonging the life of the remaining buildings in Spaç. This re-focusing also follows the priorities set forth The established protected area of the monument has in the Dialogues for Spaç action plan (priorities 2A, 2D) also been subject to various discussions and and paves the way for the first significant physical disagreement among the stakeholders in the meetings interventions on the site in 26 years. The planned work facilitated by CHwB-Albania. The general consensus was will include: careful cleaning of the site, replacement of that the declared ‘protected area’ leaves out key parts of the hydro insulation layers of the roofs, and structural the historic site, which were mentioned in Spaç’s original reinforcements in 3 of the ‘core’ buildings. These nomination file for monument status. In response to this, interventions will be completed in the first half of 2017. CHwB-Albania procured the necessary arguments and prepared a proposal for the extension of the protected In parallel to these interventions, the CHwB team has area to include the mining galleries where the prisoners continued a twofold documentation effort, by 1) once worked (an area currently left out of the protected documenting and assessing the site in its current area). Despite many efforts, this proposal, whose impact condition and 2) performing archival research. In both would have been to clarify further roles and efforts, CHwB has involved either local community responsibility, was not embraced by the stakeholders members or former persecuted persons, which are group. However, CHwB-Albania proceeded to submit considered as key partners. Results have been shared this request to the competent authorities on March 1, with the extended working group and with the public via 2017, since we consider the clarification of the legal and social media and the project blog (spacdialog.org). An strategic context to be a compulsory condition for any on-going communication with the World Monuments further physical interventions or planned activities on site. Fund has been established, which provides the site and the related effort a greater international visibility. CHwB To accelerate the process of reducing some of the has also provided essential information on Spaç to the immediate threats – namely by halting the steady natural project team of the first virtual museum of Spaç, available destruction of the site – CHwB-Albania also realigned its at: http://luginaeqendreses.al
22 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Finally, CHwB-Albania’s approach and efforts about Spaç to become a platform of co-decision. have earned the organization a spot on the Steering Committee of the European Network of the Relationship between the site and the mining company: International Coalition of Sites of Conscience for 2016- The co-existence of Spaç Prison with the operations of 2018, thus promoting internationally the validity of this the licensed mining company has also raised several Albanian experience and know-how alongside similar questions. In the January 2016 meeting, the sites from Spain, Belgium, Northern Ireland and others. representatives of the company declared that they do not intend to touch the monument site nor the CHALLENGES & LESSONS LEARNED landscape around it. Despite these declarations, the company’s work on site has continued, resulting in some Spaç Prison ownership and legal framework: incidences that have affected the monument and its Currently the ownership context in Spaç remains protected area (e.g. the extension of the road in the unclear. According to unofficial documents obtained by proximity of the prison’s entrance or the altering of the CHwB, the entire site, including the surface infrastructure landscape where the former political prisoners once and land, seems to be owned by the company Alb Bakri stayed and in the former ‘Zone 2’ of the mines). At a SA. However, Alb Bakri is currently in the process of meeting on June 27, the group of stakeholders decided liquidation, adding uncertainty to the future ownership to draw the public’s attention to these issues by gathering status of the site. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture is in Spaç on July 21, in order to make a joint statement for administratively responsible for the site, due to its status the media. Unfortunately, this effort was unsuccessful as a ‘Monument of Culture’. In practice, this situation has since the planned gathering didn’t take place. Given the resulted in a lack of clear roles and therefore lack of rapidly-shifting circumstances on the ground at Spaç, vision when it comes to the site’s current challenges and CHwB-Albania organized an additional meeting with the its future. CHwB has tried to address these issues via the mining company, along with any interested stakeholders, stakeholders’ meetings, but given the diversity of on February 17, 2017. stakeholders’ priorities, as well as their lack of an official mandate, these administrative and legal aspects were National context of the Communist past: considered less important than other current issues. Finally, the general context in Albania in regard to the opening of sites related to the country’s Communist Role and competencies of the ‘working group’: period is also evolving. The opening of Bunk’Art 1 and 2 As illustrated above, there have been a number of and the future opening of the House of Leaves as a situations where the stakeholders’ group is either unable “museum of surveillance” seem to indicate that the or unwilling to come to a consensus on issues regarding government is focusing on Tirana, rather than on other Spaç (e.g. the submission of the request to extend the peripheral areas, such as Spaç. Also, all of these projects protected zone or addressing the administrative and legal seem to prioritize opening the sites to the public as soon aspects of a future Spaç ‘museum’). These issues highlight as possible, rather than using ‘memorialization’ the fact that the current platform (the Spaç stakeholders methodologies to promote dialogue on the past. The meeting) is an appropriate setting for joint information result is a lack of transparency and inclusiveness. The and coordination for smaller activities (visits, media latter two are standards that CHwB-Albania considers outings, etc.), as well as for dialogue. but is not yet ready sine qua non for the work with Spaç.
Photo on next page: Participants bond at the Regional Restoration Camp in Berat. CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 23 Key Objective 3 Regional cooperation as a platform for building peace
24 Narrative: Key Objective 3 Regional cooperation serves as platform for building peaceful relations for responsible preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage in the Western Balkans, with effects felt beyond the region
Specific Objective 3.1 Regional trainings (RRC & seminars) take the most effective approach, based on active learning and growth mindset, in order to address real heritage needs, including conservation, promotion and interpretation of cultural heritage across borders of the WB region and beyond
the University of Tirana (MoU signed in October 2015). In total, 7 camps were organized in different historic centres in Albania, Kosovo and Serbia, offering now a larger thematic choice to the growing number o participants. The Camps in Albania, previously held only in Gjirokastra (and held there twice in 2016), were extended to three other important historical cities, as well: Kruja, Shkodra and Berat. In Kosovo, thanks to a new partnership with the Museum of Kosovo, the Camp on museum artefact conservation moved from Mitrovica to Prishtina, making it the first time that an RRC was implemented in a capital city. In Serbia, the historic village of Rogljevo continued to host the Camp activities, maintaining the long-standing partnership with the Republic Institute for the Protection of Monuments in Serbia. The extension to new locations has contributed to increased visibility and impact of the various messages conveyed throughout the Camps’ implementation (see outreach numbers above).
The thematic expansion of the Camps has helped to provide the participants with additional opportunities to engage in/with heritage: besides the classic themes, such as building conservation and museum conservation, a new topic—historical arts and crafts—was introduced,
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 25 2016 RRC SCHEDULE
RRC Location Dates Themes
26th Rogljevo, Serbia 8-21 May Building conservation, interpretation 27th Gjirokastra, Albania 15-28 May Building conservation, interpretation 28th Kruja, Albania 9-20 July Historical arts and crafts 29th Shkodra, Albania 9-20 July Interpretation, management 30th Berat, Albania 18 Sept – 1 Oct Building conservation, interpretation 31st Gjirokastra, Albania 18 Sept – 1 Oct Building conservation, interpretation 32nd Prishtina, Kosovo 8-19 Oct Conservation of artefacts, interpretation
while another was—heritage interpretation—further leaders developed into a full RRC. ● 72 lecturers
One of the specific objectives of the extended RRC Together, the Camps of 2016 represent 11.580 hours of Program (MoU) was to provide new employment training or 74 hours of training per participant per Camp. opportunities to students and young professionals in the As a result, besides the educational impact and field of cultural heritage. The adopted mechanism awareness-raising effect, the Camps also contributed foresees that the students from the Cultural Heritage with: Management and Archaeology Master’s program at the ● 17 interventions conducted on historic monuments University of Tirana, who have successfully completed 4 in Rogljevo, Gjirokastra and Berat, consecutive RRC during their program of studies at the ● 4 proposals for interpretation strategies for different Faculty, will be considered a priority during the heritage sites in Shkodra advertisement of job vacancies within Ministry of Culture ● 4 different types of traditional crafts explored and and subordinate institutions. Since 2016 was the first year integrated in various business concepts in Kruja of implementation of the program and given the two- ● 25 museum objects conserved in Prishtina year cycle of the Master’s program, the first participants to be eligible for priority consideration will be Outcome 3.4: Networks of cultural heritage determined once all the Camps of 2017 are finalized. professionals extended across borders, aiding They would be employed reconciliation of divided starting from 2018. communities in the Balkans and beyond The 7 camps held in 2016 gathered a community of more The geographical and thematic than 261 partners, including: expansion of the Camps has ● 158 participants contributed also in the further ● 13 volunteers increase of CHwB-Albania’s ● 34 craftspeople / artisans network of consultants and / conservators / group- craftspeople.
26 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Overall 54 lecturers, representing 14 countries shared their diverse knowledge and provided useful guidance to the Camp participants. The details on their geographical variety and fields of expertise confirm the successful diversification of the Camps in 2016.
Geographical variety of lecturers Fields of expertise covered by lecturers 54 lecturers : 14 countries Conservation of built heritage (21) Museum conservation, mgmt, curatorship (8) Heritage-based entrepreneurship (7) Heritage interpretation or communication (6) USA Management of cultural heritage (6) 3 (6%) Portugal Historical crafts (6) 1 (2%) Sweden 5 (9%)
Italy Kosovo 2 (4%) 3 (6%)
Pakistan Albania 1 (2%) Montenegro 17 (31%) 1 (2%) Serbia 7 (13%) Greece 1 (2%)
Bosnia & Germany United Kingdom Herzegovina 1 (2%) 6 (11%) Macedonia 5 (9%) 1 (2%)
This level of diversification characterizes also the 34 craftspeople, artisans, conservators and group leaders involvedin the Camps in 2016. As with the lecturers, their cultural and professional backgrounds are also very varied.
Geographical variety of craftspersons, Specialties of craftspeople, artisans, artisans, conservators & group leaders conservators & group-leaders 29 people : 8 countries Wood (8) Traditional crafts (6) Stone (5) Plaster (4) Object conservation (3) Serbia Kosovo Art conservation (3) 4 3
Albania 16 United Kingdom Italy 1 1
Bosnia & Macedonia Romania Herzegovina 2 1 1 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 27 Above: Participants of the B+CARE trainings undertake rapid condition assessments under simulated disaster conditions in Gjirokastra in March 2016 (left) and in Prishtina in November 2016 (right).
Outcome 3.3: Alumni network of RRC is a proactive first aiders could easily span the entire Balkan region. pool of professionals tackling burning issues of cultural heritage preservation across the region Activities completed in 2016
Financed by: Sweden; Prince Claus Fund March 2016: First training to establish the B+CARE Network Approach to Outcome 3.3 Co-financing from the Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) In March 2016, CHwB-Albania teamed up with the allowed us to make significant progress in offering Urban Development Centre (Serbia) to launch the specialized follow-up activities and opportunities to the Balkan Cultural Aid Response for Emergencies alumni of the Regional Restoration Camps across the (B+CARE) network with its first pilot training for region. The first organized network of RRC alumni was volunteers, held in Gjirokastra, Albania. Trainers came created within the framework of the project Balkan from ICCROM, ICOMOS-ICORP, GEA Search & Rescue Cultural Aid Response for Emergencies (B+CARE). and the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation to share their knowledge with 19 participants from 7 Balkan The desire to form something like the B+CARE countries in the basic principles of first aid for cultural volunteer network grew out of discussions within heritage in disasters. The volunteers who were trained CHwB-Albania, going back to 2012. Through CHwB’s came away from Gjirokastra enthusiastic to continue Regional Restoration Camps (RRC), hundreds of young developing the B+CARE network and raising awareness professionals from across the Balkans have been trained back home. The group of trainees made mistakes, of in the basic principles of heritage conservation, course, but they dealt with them and approached them restoration and interpretation. After their experience at as learning experiences. All in all, they managed the RRC, many of the former participants wanted to stay fantastically, particularly given the very compressed involved and do more to protect cultural heritage in their schedule of the training. CHwB staff were most communities. With such a dedicated web of people in impressed how all of the participants, coming from 7 place, we realized that a volunteer network of cultural Balkan countries, worked together calmly, diligently and 28 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 in the highest spirit of teamwork. Most of the participants Heritage and Museums, General Directorate of Strategic left the training energized to bring their new knowledge Planning for Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, back to their home countries and organize activities Albania; and, Catherine Antomarchi, Collections Unit there, as well. This is the best result we could have hoped Director, ICCROM, Rome, Italy. for, and we will need to follow up to support them in this. Finally, the 19 participants of the training were all alumni of the Regional Restoration Camps, which makes the B+CARE network the first thematic association of RRC alumni.
November 2016: Joint 3-week training on ‘Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage’
The international training on ‘Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage’ was held from November 7 – 28, with one week in each of the following locations: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Prishtina, Kosovo; Gjirokastra, Albania. In total, there were 26 participants from 11 countries, who were joined by 6 volunteers and 28 trainers and lecturers from 9 different countries. In addition, this training was organized as a joint collaboration among the three Balkan Cultural Heritage without Borders foundations (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo).
One of the high points of the training activity that is worth highlighting is the panel discussion held in The above diagram is from: Gjirokastra near the end of the training. For this panel, we Jigyasu, Rohit and Vanicka Arora. Disaster Risk Management of Cultural gathered together 4 professionals with different Heritage in Urban Areas: A Training Guide. Research Center for Disaster Mitigation of Urban Cultural Heritage, Ritsumeikan University backgrounds related to disaster risk management, (RitsDMUCH), Kyoto, Japan, 2013, p. 34. international development and heritage, who addressed the following key ideas: 1. Identity and social dimensions of culture and CHALLENGES & LESSONS LEARNED cultural heritage are an important factor in helping communities recover from disaster; For the Camps alumni network: 2. Working with culture/CH (in terms of cultural RRC alumni are able to continue engaging with the practices, community knowledge, traditional Camps and CHwB-Albania in a variety of ways, from building techniques, etc., etc.) can positively attending another RRC with a different theme to reinforce humanitarian and development missions volunteering as a group leader to joining the B+CARE and help them achieve their goals. network. However, there is still no formal alumni The members of the panel were: Birgitta Jansson, Head network, and at the moment, this may be for the best. of Development Cooperation, Swedish Embassy in One of the challenges of formalizing such a network is Tirana; Xhuvanaq Gjylameti, Director of National keeping it active with a steady stream of communication Emergency Operations Centre, Ministry of Interior and activities, which requires very intensive involvement, Affairs, Albania; Sonila Kora, Directorate of Tangible particularly from communications staff. Such an
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 29 investment is especially important when the network is participants. getting started, though it also needed on some level in order to maintain active engagement. Given the risk that For the B+CARE network: a newly-founded alumni network could fade away This latest training strengthened the B+CARE network in without enough dedicated resources to support it, steady the Balkans, by increasing the number of people trained, growth in alumni engagement through the B+CARE as well as allowing earlier members the chance to network and RRC volunteering should be the focus, at volunteer and stay involved. This is not precisely a least until CHwB-Albania bolsters its communication problem for this current contract period, but a challenge department. for the future will be to continually engage with B+CARE network volunteers, both in terms of training and Web portal for RRC alumni: awareness-raising in each of their countries and together For the above reasons, the web portal for RRC alumni on a regional level. In terms of addressing this challenge, has also been delayed. Given staff resources, it may be a meeting was held with Mr. Xhuvanaq Gjylameti, more efficient for CHwB-Albania to focus on maximum Director of the National Emergency Operations Centre exploitation of its currently-available digital resources, (Ministry of Interior Affairs) on December 13. Mr. including Facebook pages and groups, the CHwB-Albania Gjylameti is interested in establishing a nation-wide website and the B+CARE website. Meanwhile, association of volunteers in case of emergency, and he development of the online portal can be linked to the was interested in the role that the B+CARE network creation of a digital database of all former RRC could play in such a structure.
Specific Objective 3.2 Balkan Museum Network(BMN) is a platform for linking civil and public institutions across borders through innovative and proactive approaches to interpretation and presentation of common cultural assets.
Outcome 3.5: BMN plays an active role in training craftspeople with museums, called ‘Crafting Access’; and young professionals and enabling Balkan museums to representation of BMN among international museum become promoters of access and the right to culture networks and professional associations. for all people. Activities in 2016 Financed by: Sweden; Stavros Niarchos Foundation Steering Board meetings held in April and October 2016 Approach to Outcome 3.5 Two meetings of the Balkan Museum Network Steering Board were held in 2016, both in conjunction with Outcome 3.5 foresees a constellation of interrelated ongoing BMN activities. The first meeting was held in activities that would support the Balkan Museum April in Shkodra, Albania, as a side event of the ‘Meet, Network and its mission to promote access and the right See, Do’ conference, while the second was held in to culture through the region’s museums. These activities October in Tirana, Albania, just prior to the ‘Crafting included, in 2016: support for BMN Steering Board Access’ training. The main topics that have been meetings; a joint exhibition of BMN members called ‘My discussed concern the development of the membership Museum and Me’; support for the BMN Secretary base as the network enlarged from 32 museum members General and financial officer; a program to connect to almost 50. Also, individual membership, which was
30 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Above: CHwB-Albania staff and museum professionals from around the Balkans take part in a session on collecting and sharing the stories of museum objects at the Balkan Museum Network's 4th annual Meet See Do conference in Shkodra, April 2016. promoted in 2015, grew considerably in 2016 to consist interactive, cross-border, online BMN exhibition space. of 30 individuals. Other issues that were discussed The exhibition can be found at: concerned international partnerships and fundraising that http://bmuseums.net/virtualexhibition/ would support the visibility, branding and sustainability of the BMN, as well as planning for the 5th edition of the 4th annual Meet See Do conference BMN’s flagship ‘Meet See Do’ conference in 2017. In The 4th annual BMN conference “Meet, See, Do” was 2016, the BMN has elected 1 new member of the held in Shkodra, Albania on April 13-15. With nearly 100 Steering Board, testing its democratic decision-making museum professionals in attendance from across the procedures. Balkans, this was the largest BMN conference to date. Attendees participated in parallel workshop sessions on Launching of the virtual exhibition ‘My Museum and Me’ topics such as access, mentorship, digital communities This interactive online exhibition began as a means of and storytelling and attended keynote lectures by noted exploring alternative interpretations of objects in international professionals, including Diana Walters museum collections and seeing how the collections of (“Can you see me? Representation in museums and BMN members could be put in conversation with one galleries”), Andreja Rihter (“LOOK! MUSEUM!”) and another even without the physical movement of David Anderson (“Are museums political?”). artefacts. The exhibition began with submitted descriptions, photos and stories of objects from the Crafting Access training collections of 14 BMN institutional members. Objects on On October 17-23, 12 participants from the Gjirokastra- the website (see below) are organized under 4 main Ioannina cross border region (including both museum themes: meanings, inspiration, personal memories, and curators and craftspeople) came together in Gjirokastra, people creating. They are further connected with Albania for the training ‘Crafting Access.’ The training different tags, in order to allow users to mix and match drew on both lectures and workshop activities to fulfill to follow their own thematic exhibitions. This online the following objectives: space invites visitors to explore objects and different 1. understand how museums are developing their voices of interpretation. In addition, they can get involved educational and social role around access; by adding their own voice and contributing to this 2. understand and apply a basic knowledge on CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 31 reducing barriers to access in museums and as a catalyst for the next steps that must be taken heritage; individually or via email/Skype. 3. develop some methodologies and tools enabling larger accessibility to museums; Diversified funding for the BMN: 4. strengthen practical skills around access - focusing The Balkan Museum Network has been very successful on sensory and tactile, accessible exhibitions and in bringing together museum professionals from across handcrafted artefacts. the region and beyond. This success has translated into greater independence and activism from the BMN, after During the workshop, curators and craftspeople followed becoming officially registered as an association in 2015 principles of universal design to develop together several (having been active as a network since 2006). However, interactive models that could be used to explore various this independence comes with an increased need to themes represented by their museums. diversify funding sources for the BMN, including securing more funding from network members themselves. At the International representation of the Network moment, the BMN is supported by Sweden (through the President of the BMN Steering Board Dr. Tatjana support of CHwB-Albania), the Stavros Niarchos Cvjetićanin from the National Museum of Serbia took Foundation and the Headley Trust. Further sources of part in a session at the annual conference of the UK funding, particularly multi-year funding, can help the BMN Museum Association, held in Glasgow on November 7-9. engage in long-term planning and branch out its activities. The session “Museums and Peacebuilding: Can we really help?” was about sharing on-going international Crafting Access: peacebuilding initiatives through the museum community While the ‘Crafting Access’ training exposed curators and as agents of change. Another important channel for the craftspeople to cooperation towards more accessible establishment of international partnerships for BMN is its and interactive museums, it did not provide enough membership in international networks, including: the opportunities for participants to follow up on what they Network of European Museum Organizations (NEMO), learned. Therefore, the 2017 ‘Crafting Access’ training is the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, and envisioned to be implemented in closer coordination the Social Justice Alliance of Museums (SJAM). BMN with a BMN member institution that has the ability to act Secretary General Aida Vežić took part in the NEMO as ‘host.’ The host institution would then become a hub annual conference to share and connect. The year 2016 for this type of activity for its region — supporting smaller was also a time for reaching out to new potential donors museums and serving as the connection between for the BMN, such as the Headley Trust from the UK. museums and craftspeople in the surrounding area.
CHALLENGES & LESSONS LEARNED Reliance on CHwB for organizational and staff support: CHwB invests in the development of the BMN by Active participation of the BMN Steering Board: ensuring all necessary preconditions for the functioning of One challenge in terms of the BMN Steering Board is the Network (office, operational costs and staff). In 2016, ensuring active participation from all of the board all three CHwB organizations in the Balkans (Albania, members. While all members are committed to the Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo) have delegated success of the network, all of them have their own jobs some staff time in support of BMN activities. The biggest and duties, which restrict the time they can spend on investment comes from CHwB–BiH, which hosts the BMN organizational activities. For this reason, the regular Secretary General and provides assistance for outreach, physical Steering Board meetings are crucial to the finances and technical issues. In the future, greater continued active engagement of the board members. financial stability for the BMN as an independent Not only do board members work together very association would help to ensure less reliance on CHwB efficiently during the meetings. These meetings also serve organizational structures for support.
32 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Other initiatives
The 'other initiatives' in this section include activities which were not specifically foreseen in the annual plan, but were enabled through additional funding and support specific aspects of the overall strategic plan for CHwB-Albania.
MAKE IT YOURS! in cooperation with the US Embassy Youth Council Supports Outcome 2.2 (USEYC). The second group of participants included cultural journalists. The third group consisted of retirees, Financed by: Sweden; US Embassy in Tirana accompanied by Daut Çerpja, chairman of the Pensioners Association for the Integration of Retirees- The main goals of ‘Make it Yours!’ are to increase –Tirana. Albanians’ awareness of and involvement with their heritage and to advocate for politicians and public On September 26, CHwB Albania organized the final interest groups to take heritage into consideration. activity of the ‘Make it Yours!’ project, a day-long activity to recognize and raise awareness of the cultural heritage Local heritage is an essential piece of human identity, and of Berat. Fifteen members of USEYC wore helmets, a society’s active engagement with heritage is one sign of gloves and goggles and participated in small restoration a dynamic and evolving culture. Therefore, ‘Make it works on several houses in the historic centre of the city. yours!’ encourages everyone, from specialists to media to This activity was held in conjunction with the RRC being politicians to everyday people, to take an active role in held at that time in Berat. using, preserving, and promoting their heritage, in order to ensure that it remains a source of pride and inspiration for generations to come, a development motor as well. QUOTABLE... The ‘Make it Yours!’ activities in 2016 were organized “Who knows how many times we have passed with the help of the Regional Directorate of Education of these monuments, but we never appreciated Tirana, the Regional Directorate of National Culture – enough the heritage that surrounds us. I and Durrës and the Directorate of Cultural Heritage and my friends from today will be more aware Tourism at the Municipality of Tirana. because heritage is what we are.” — Sara Lumani, pupil at Dora d’Istria School Throughout May, ninth grade students from three schools in Tirana (Edith Durham School, Emin Duraku School and Dora d’Istria School) participated in ‘Make it COOPERATION WITH US FULBRIGHT Yours!’ — joining short cultural heritage itineraries of ASSOCIATION Tirana led by a professional guide. During the month of Supports Outcome 3.1 June, CHwB Albania organized three half-day activities at the Mosaic of Tirana and Persqop Castle where different Financed by: Sweden; private donations groups got their hands dirty improvising the documentation of a newly discovered mosaic or May 2016 saw the successful completion of the second archaeological site. Wearing work dungarees and gloves, annual Fulbright Alumni Service Corps (FASC) trip to the the participants were completely involved in the cultural Balkans, in partnership with CHwB-Albania. In total, 11 heritage of Tirana. The first mosaic activity was organized alumni of the US Fulbright program (10 paying CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 33 Above: 'Make it yours!' brought members of the US Embassy Youth Council (left) and cultural journalists (right) into close contact with their heritage in Berat and Tirana, respectively. participants and one representative of the US Fulbright interregional sharing of experiences by combining the Association) attended the two-week program, which experience from the Balkans with a project for Israeli- included time spent restoring historic wine cellars at the Jordanian cooperation through eco-tourism. From March Regional Restoration Camp in Rogljevo, Serbia, as well as 1-5, 2 CHwB staff members were invited to present meetings with Serbian Fulbright alumni and visits to about CHwB-Albania’s work in the Balkans to a newly monasteries, archaeological sites and museums across formed Israeli-Jordanian Eco-Tourism Network. Serbia. The focus of the training held in southern Israel was for This program is part of a push by CHwB-Albania to raise Jordanian and Israeli tourism site managers and outside funding for activities such as the Regional entrepreneurs to advance their eco-community tourism Restoration Camps — which would increase financial knowledge and practices, while increasing ties with each health and sustainability of both the RRC as a program other as part of a regional network. and CHwB-Albania as an organization. In total, the 2016 FASC trip raised 8,470 euros — part of which was used CHwB staff also contributed by facilitating some of the to cover administrative costs, while the rest can be used sessions of the training that were aimed at fostering to contribute toward the implementation of future RRC. cohesion and synergies among the diverse group of participants, drawing upon similar experiences from CHwB-Albania and the US Fulbright Association have CHwB’s previous work in Albania. The training was had a strong partnership for three years, with the desire supported by three local regional councils of the from both sides to continue offering travel and service southern regions in Israel (Tamar, Central Arava and opportunities to Fulbright alumni. Another FASC trip is Eilot) and the Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation. planned for May 2017, which will include visits in Kosovo and Albania, in combination with hands-on restoration In January 2017, CHwB-Albania hosted in Albania two work at the Regional Restoration Camp in Berat, Albania. representatives of this network and facilitated site visits, discussions and meetings with local staff and partners of ISRAELI-JORDANIAN ECO-TOURISM the organization. The agenda included site visits to Belsh, COOPERATION Tirana and Gjirokastra as well as meetings with CSOs, Supports Outcome 3.4 local municipalities and subordinate institutions of the Ministry of Culture. The purpose of the visit was to Financed by: Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation, Anna continue learning from the experience of CHwB and its Lindh Foundation; Sweden partners in utilizing cultural and natural heritage assets for Through this cooperation, CHwB contribution to local development and reconciliation. 34 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Risk analysis
During the implementation of the first year of the program ‘Heritage for People’, the following risks havebeen encountered (from the list of risks included in the funding application to Sweden):
KEY OBJECTIVE 1: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC COMPONENT 1
Identification / Risk Factor Valuation Management / Mitigation Likelihood Consequence 1 - unlikely 1 - minor 2 - possible 2 - moderate 3 - likely 3 - major 4 - certain 4 - severe Internal Risks As predicted, this is one of the risks that the team has faced. Following the national municipal elections last year, the newly elected Mayor of Gjirokastra has struggled in setting up the teams and budgets. It wasn’t until mid 2016 that a person was appointed Inadequate capacity on the for a tourism/cultural heritage department. side of local and national 3 3 Given its current capacities, the department government to develop a is still struggling to determine a course of working nucleus action and set forth priorities. For the time being, the Municipality of Gjirokastra is seen more in a supportive role, rather than an implementation role. External Risks Albania is facing strengthening local currency, and the exchange rates are causing losses. Devaluation of SEK 1 1 - 4 (theoretical) (depending on More detailed and rigorous planning of extent) expenditures is being rolled out.
The bypass of Gjirokastra is one of the on- going projects in the planning stages. Discussions among different levels of the Gjirokastra heritage and government are taking place. Given the way natural assets endangered by 2 2 that the bypass is designed, it would have a inappropriate development very lasting and damaging influence on the natural and historical context of Gjirokastra. The CHwB team is addressing this through meetings with government representatives.
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 35 KEY OBJECTIVE 2: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC COMPONENT 2
Identification / Risk Factor Valuation Management / Mitigation Likelihood Consequence 1 - unlikely 1 - minor 2 - possible 2 - moderate 3 - likely 3 - major 4 - certain 4 - severe Internal Risks The Ministry of Culture is currently in the final stages of drafting a new Law on Cultural Heritage and Museums. CHwB-Albania was asked to give feedback on the draft law and did so, though it remains to be seen how Lack of commitment of the much of that feedback will be taken into government to take on the account.This law is also expected to give a role of a leading partner in 3 3 clearer view on possible Public-Private building private-public Partnerships, moving the discussion away partnerships from the over-simplification that came from the public simply calling the matter ‘concessions’. Upon the approval of the law, CHwB shall follow the development of the bylaws that will be necessary to ‘activate’ monuments of culture for use.
Politically charged dialogue The year was relatively calm. Spaç and over traumatic memory of 3 4 communist heritage were not at the centre post-communism of political attention.
External Risks The stakeholder team met with the mining company that has a license to work in Spaç. The representative of the mining company The mining company in Spaç has vouched for sensitive treatment of the destroys the historical site 2 3 remains of Spaç prison. In addition, they have vouched and for non-interference with the protected zone.
KEY OBJECTIVE 3: REGIONAL COMPONENT
None of the major risks were encountered within the regional component of the program.
36 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Management and organization
STAFF AND WORKING PROCESS as a tool for communication within the organization, exchange of ideas, and new initiatives, as well as formal The overall management of the activities of the discussions and decisions. organization is divided among the Head of the Office and the three Program Managers. The program managers are The management meetings and staff meetings are responsible for the coordination of the activities planned recorded by meeting minutes. within the 3 main program components as per the strategic planning of the organization. The management The communication officer is responsible together with group is supported by the teams that are assigned based the program managers to strategically communicate the on the required competences for each component. All work of the organization externally, as well as work to the program managers have to develop the improve internal communication. communication and delegation order within their teams. The financial and administrative officers are supporting The management team is also responsible for the the management team with financial follow up of the strategic orientation of the organization and contractual activities and financial reports. An external financial agreements which are sent to the Board for approval. consultant supports the organization with Every decision of the management team is discussed also communication and reporting to the local tax authorities. with the teams during the staff meetings, which are organized twice per month. The staff meetings are used Legal issues are advised by an external legal officer.
CHwB-ALBANIA MANAGEMENT SCHEME
Board Roles and responsibilities from the Statutes
Deputy Head Head of Office, Mandate from Management Team Job description the Board, Roles and (Head & Program Managers) responsibilities from the Statutes Strategic/Program orientation
Program Manager Program Manager Program Manager Legal Advisor Job description Job description Job description (part-time) Job description Communication Officer Administration and Financial Officer Job description Job description Financial Consultant (part-time) Staff Job description Job description
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 37 EMPLOYEES Hrant Dink Foundation to Albania later in the year. ● A staff member participated at the ITB (Tourism CHwB Albania has offices in Tirana and Gjirokastra. In Fair) in Berlin. 2016, the organization employed 17 staff members, of April which 13 were employed full time (100%), 1 at 80% of ● A staff member participated in a capacity building full time, 1 at 50%, and 2 at 25%. Out of the total number workshop on digital promotion, organized by of employees, 10 are women and 7 are men. The list of Europa Nostra in Brussels. the staff members includes: May ● 2 staff members participated in the Training Lejla Hadžić head of office (100%) "Promoting Nature, Culture and World Heritage" in Elena Mamani deputy head of office (100%) the framework of the Lake Ohrid region project, Mirian Bllaci program manager (100%) organized by UNESCO and held in Pogradec and Arianna Briganti* program manager (100%) Tushemisht, Albania. Jonathan Eaton program officer (100%) ● A staff member delivered a training for Syrians as Xhafer Rakipllari communication specialist (100%) part of a capacity building program for Syrians to Anisa Lloja program staff (100%) prepare to face the challenges of post-war Nedi Petri program staff (100%) recovery. The training was held in Gaziantep, Stavri Burda program staff (100%) Turkey under the umbrella of the organization Arab Ana Pekmezi program staff (80%) Reform. Enkeleida Roze administrational officer (100%) June Aneida Bajraktari finance/administration officer (100%) ● Staff had a retreat day and team building activities. Anisa Mano program staff (100%) ● A staff member delivered a training and Hajredin Baushi logistics (100%) presentations on CHwB Albania at the ICCROM Dhurata Rroku sanitary (50%) course on First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times Albana Çaushi accountant (25%) of Crisis, held in Washington, DC. Endrit Dajçi legal adviser (25%) July ● A staff member delivered a presentation on CHwB * This position is supported by the German development Albania, at the Conference on Heritage and cooperation (GIZ) // Centre for International Migration Sustainable Development, held in Lisbon, Portugal. and Development (CIM). ● 2 staff members participated in a training on the usage and application of Quickbook software for Short profiles of each staff member are available online financial follow-up. at: http://chwb.org/albania/our-team/ In addition, CHwB August Albania was very happy to host Mr. Leonardo Leckie as ● A staff member presented the case studies of an intern during the period September – December. CHwB’s work in Albania at the Conference on Unity and Plurality held in Mostar, BiH. The STAFF TRAINING AND PARTICIPATION conference was organized by International Forum IN CONFERENCES Bosnia. October February ● A staff member shared the experiences of CHwB- ● Staff members participated in a seminar organized Albania at a workshop during the course “Building by Hrant Dink Foundation from Turkey. The scope National Capacities in First Aid and Risk of the seminar was to exchange the experiences Management for Cultural Heritage in Times of between the two foundations. The seminar was Conflict,” organized by ICCROM-ATHAR in held in Istanbul and was followed by a visit of the Sharjah, UAE.
38 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 November The Board met on two occasions during 2016, namely ● A staff member participated in a week-long Salon of February 14 and October 27. Art and Restoration held in Florence, organized and made possible by ICE (the agency contracted by the Short profiles of the Board members are available online Italian Embassy for promoting and strengthening at: http://chwb.org/albania/who-we-are/board/ Italian-Albanian relations). December CHwB Albania selected a new auditor. The new auditor ● A staff member participated in the “Regional is KPMG. Dialogue” conference organized by the World Bank in Përmet, Albania. AFFILIATIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS CHwB Albania is a continuing member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC), a The CHwB Albania Board of Directors consists of global network of more than 200 members in 55 prominent specialists in the field of cultural heritage, who countries. In 2016, CHwB Albania deepened its affiliation sometimes contribute to project activities. with the Coalition by becoming a Member of the Steering Board of the ICSC’s European Network. In 2016, the CHwB Albania Board was composed of the following: CHwB Albania is represented on the Board of the South ● Florian Raunig, Chair of the Board (elected by the East European (SEE) Heritage Network, through its Board members) head of office. SEE Heritage is a network that consists of ● Edlira Çaushi, Deputy Chair (elected by the Board civil society organizations from South East Europe. The members) network was established in 2006, and its main task is to ● Lorenc Bejko, Board member protect and promote common cultural heritage within ● Emin Riza, Board member this region. ● Karen Knight, Board member
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 39 Financial overview
A simple overview of the total funding picture of the organization.
FINANCIAL PROCEDURES OF CHwB The last step of the monthly financial report is the budget ALBANIA follow-up for every donor, project and/or program that compares the planned activities with actual performance. Until July 2016, CHwB Albania used a financial system Budget vs actuals reports are developed for internal use, developed in Microsoft Excel for recording and such as monitoring expenses within the organization, and submitting all types of financial transactions made for the for external use, such as for submitting reports to donors. purposes of implementing projects and running This is communicated to the project managers, as well. the organization. Budget follow-ups were also done in the Excel system. Though the Excel accounting system Every month, the accountant declares to the state: was well designed, it involved a lot of manual work and purchase and selling of books, withholding tax report, a higher risk of error. This is the reason the organization payroll report, and VAT report (if any). decided to invest in the accounting software called Quickbooks. Since finances are a crucial part of organizational management, CHwB Albania has developed a ‘Financial A monthly report is prepared by the finance officer and Policy’ for following procedures to keep the system sent to the head of office on the 10th of the following transparent and easily manageable. Every bank payment month. The monthly report contains all the transactions done at the bank is supported by an authorization signed happening during that month, specifying the date, by 2 persons. From July 2016, CHwB has implemented account, cost center, description, and amount. After “Multicash Software” provided by the bank with the reviewing the report and checking all the supporting purpose of making payments online. The system documents, the head of office sends any comments to functions in 2 steps: first, the finance officer makes the the finance officer. Then, a final version of the monthly payment in her computer; second, the authorization is report is sent to the head of office. Both the finance done by the head of office in another computer. As for officer and the head of office sign the reconciliation cash payments, payments over 100 euros need an document which shows the opening balance, deposits authorization signed by 2 persons. and credits, payments, and closing balance of bank and cash accounts (comparing bank statements, ledgers of The organization’s books of accounts conform to the organization in QuickBooks and cash in the box). accounting principles, standards and practices. Cash accounts are separate for the Tirana and Accounting information is recorded using Cash Basis of Gjirokastra offices. The head of office and deputy head Accounting. In this method of bookkeeping, income or physically verify the cash balance at the end of the month expenses are considered to have occurred upon receipt. for the respective offices. Cash is kept in a safe place: a That is, a cash-basis report shows grants only if it has secure, lockable drawer in both offices. The organization been received and expenses only if they have been paid. tries to make as much payments as it can through the For example, a cash-basis report on a specific project will bank. not include the amount of an invoice for which payment
40 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 has not been received. In-kind contributions are recognized through journal adjustments that are supported by appropriate and Accrual Basis of Accounting: In this method of objective documentation. Journal adjustments are also bookkeeping, income or expenses are considered to done for the payroll, withholding tax and amortization of have occurred at the time the service is rendered or the the assets. purchase made. Under this method, the entry of a transaction may be separate from the actual receipt of CHwB Albania’s finances are also audited every year, the income or payment of the bill. This method is used through a general audit of financial statements, as well as when compiling financial statements of the fiscal year, audits conducted by specific donors for their which are submitted to tax authorities and for the audit. contributions.
Financial Data 2016 (EUR)
Donor Opening balance 2015 Grants 2016 Spent 2016 Remaining
Sweden – 419,083.00 372,407.00 46,676.00 GIZ – 65,517.00 61,734.00 3,783.00 AADF RRC – 47,406.00 46,772.00 634.00 AADF Kruja – 44,767.00 43,858.00 909.00 Prince Claus Fund 7,482.00 22,494.00 17,040.00 12,936.00 CHwB-BiH (2,823.00) 15,000.00 12,177.00 – US Embassy – 3,687.00 3,687.00 – ICSC – 1,892.00 – 1,892.00 HWB – 1,734.00 – 1,734.00
TOTAL 4,659.00 621,580.00 557,675.00 68,564.00
Funds and Expenditures 2016
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000 (EUR) Total grants
200,000 Total spent Amount 150,000
100,000
50,000
0 Sweden GIZ AADF AADF Prince CHwB US Embassy ICSC HWB RRC Kruja Claus Fund BiH CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 41 Agreements Signed in 2015-2016
Country Donor Project Project period Grant
Regional Western Balkans Sweden Heritage for People 2016-2019 15,360,000 SEK
Albania GIZ Skills for Employability of Tomorrow 2016-2017 139.950 EUR
Albania AADF Regional Restoration Camps 2016-2018 180,000 USD
Albania AADF Pazari i Veshur 2016-2017 8,616,752 ALL
Albania Prince Claus Fund B+CARE 2016-2017 39,976 EUR
Albania CHwB BiH Various 2015-2016 15,000 EUR
Albania US Embassy Make it yours! 2016 4,200 USD
Albania ICSC Spaç Prison 2016-2017 1,892 EUR
Albania HWB Interpretation 2016-2017 1,500 GBP
Serbia Headley Trust Rogljevo wine cellars 2016-2017 20,000 GBP
DEVIATIONS IN PLANNING
The first year of the program ‘Heritage for People’ has the monument of culture and former forced labour been executed in the 10 months, with activities that were camp, Spaç) has seen a delay in the preparation of the planned for an entire year. Consequently, the year was physical interventions for the site itself. The delayed very dynamic and full. In the documentation of our development of the project proposal led to a chain of progress, we can conclude that there were no deviations delayed responses, as we were unable to intervene on in planning, but rather delays in some of the outcomes. site given the harsh weather conditions from October to March. Outcome 2.2 and its output (Children and adults have access to simple, accessible, inclusive and engaging Outcome 3.3 and its output (Camps alumni, museums educational tools that teach about and promote cultural and university partners can access lectures and heritage in the community [children’s books, scholarly reflections from Regional Restoration Camps through a articles, practical/how-to books]), has suffered some Web portal to disseminate the knowledge) has been delay in actual printing of new items for education. The delayed. The key reason for this delay is due to delay was caused mainly due to the inability of locating a exploration of the most effective ways to develop a printing company that would be able to deliver complex portal like this. The current planning is to link the printouts (i.e. the puzzle game or the cardboard model development of such a portal to the development of a of the house). digital database of all former RRC participants, as well as integrating a number of other future opportunities, and Outcome 2.3 and its output (Monuments professionally not only within the RRC program. repaired with active participation of monument owners are used as a training field) has seen more planning and The personnel line within all three key objectives has preparation than the actual execution. The execution marked an overspending. The main reason to this is that would be more pertinent to 2017 and 2018 (years two the initial calculation of salaries of staff was done with a and three of the program). different tax calculation than necessary, while some of the salaries were changed. The exchange rate has further Outcome 2.5 and its output (New narrative created for changed the final outcome. 42 CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016 Approval of the report
CHwB Albania Annual Report FiscalYear 2016
Organization number: L51915451S
Florian Raunig Date Edlira Çaushi Date Chair of the Board Deputy Chair of the Board
Lorenc Bejko Date Emin Riza Date Member of the Board Member of the Board
Karen Knight Date Member of the Board
CHwB Albania Annual Report / Fiscal Year 2016