Once built to protect lives during war and natural disasters, two concrete shelters in Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, have now been transformed into spaces for creativity and culture.
The legacy of two of the five Yugoslavian bunkers in Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, is being rewritten.
Located near the iconic ‘Soliterët’ residential building blocks in Ulpiana, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, the newly opened Ulpiana Art Center has transformed what were once underground shelters into a space for contemporary art, design, and creative residencies.
The centre is split into two parts: one serves as an exhibition space, while the other offers short-term residencies for local and foreign artists.
The shelters were built in the period of the former Yugoslavia, between the 1960s and 1970s.
Underground shelter in the Ulpiana neighbourhood transformed into a space for creativity. Photo: BIRN
Curated by Gazmend Ejupi, the curator of BIRN’s ‘Reporting House’ museum, the new Ulpiana Art Center was conceived to reclaim these spaces and erase their association with fear.
“The goal was to turn these bunkers into something open, inspiring, and useful,” says Ejupi. “Spaces for design, fashion, architecture, and film—a hub for the creative industries.”
He’s also designed a three-year programme for the centre, outlining the use of both the exhibition and residential areas. Inside, visitors will find a reception, three gallery rooms, a micro-cinema, and storage areas, all repurposed with care.
The residential part allows artists to live and work on-site for up to three months, encouraging engagement with their projects and with each other.
The project was realised through a partnership between the Municipality of Prishtina and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, as well as with financial support from the Government of Luxembourg.
Sibel Halimi, Director of Culture in Prishtina, emphasised the city’s commitment to decentralising art and culture.
“We want to bring culture into citizens’ daily lives,” she said. “This centre reflects our vision of integrating the arts into public life. Artists will be able to apply and a committee will manage space allocation.”
“Investing in art means investing in the future”
Underground shelter in the Ulpiana neighbourhood transformed into a space for creativity. Photo: BIRN
Luxembourg’s ambassador to Kosovo, Eric Dietz, described the centre as an investment in Kosovo’s future.
Speaking to KALLXO.com, Dietz, emphasised that the opening of the Ulpiana Art Center will play a key role in promoting Kosovar artists, while also encouraging creative innovation and employment in the country.
“Over the past 20 years, Kosovo has made significant progress,” he said.
“Luxembourg has invested and will continue to invest-in various sectors, especially in the creative industry.”
He noted that while bringing foreign companies to Kosovo can be challenging due to political circumstances, artists are much more willing and excited to come.
“What we’ve seen is that artists are happy to come here and they enjoy their time. Kosovo is a bridge between history, creativity, and technology,” he added.
Dietz also stressed the broader economic impact of supporting the creative sector: “By investing in the creative economy, we generate tax revenue for the state, which in turn supports healthcare and education. That’s why we’re very interested in investing in the arts overall.”
Underground shelter in the Ulpiana neighbourhood of Prishtina transformed into a space for creativity. Photo: BIRN
The Ulpiana Art Center was inaugurated with a performance by local artist Vleri Beqaj and his installation “Bleeding Silence.”
Beqaj combined elements of fashion, performance, and body movement to deliver an emotional experience—using his own blood to express themes of vulnerability, identity, and transformation.
According to Prishtina’s Mayor Përparim Rama, the Municipality will fund the centre’s operations and support artists through dedicated grants.
The centre’s initial programme spans three years, with a residency model allowing four artists at a time to live and work in the space, then present their projects to the public.
“I invite all artists to apply,” Rama stated. “The Ulpiana Art Center is open to everyone ready to create, connect, and contribute to the city’s cultural heartbeat.”