• 2024-09-23

Artvist Voices – Art as a Powerful Tool for Addressing Socio-Economic Issues Faced by WB Youth

Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE

The Artvist Voices is one of five regional informal groups whose project “EmpowerArt Balkans” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union.

The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions, and to promote regional cooperation and political, economic, and social benefits of the EU integration for the Western Balkans societies.

Support is provided through the direct payments by RYDE partner organization Youth Act Center from Tirana, Albania, which serve as intermediary organizations for their project.

Project background: Youth employment is an important policy priority for all governments in the Western Balkans. Along with general economic development, all economies have experienced a positive trend in youth employment creation in recent years. However, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, while activity and employment rates are far below the levels seen in the EU, with a strong gender bias. The average regional youth unemployment rate is 35,1%, more than double that of 14,5% in the EU. Data shows that 23,7% of young people in the Western Balkans are NEET (Neither in Employment nor in Education or Training), which compares poorly with the 11,1% in the EU.

The main challenges identified are the lack of coordination of stakeholders across different levels of government and policy fields (such as employment, education, housing, and health services), deficiencies in the quality of education systems and the teaching of market-demanded skills, inefficiencies in the job search process resulting in skills mismatches and prolonged transitions from education to employment, the prevalence of temporary work contracts in certain economies, and the scarcity of available job opportunities for young people.

About Artvist Voices

The informal group Artvist Voices is consisted of five young girls from Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo* who use art as a tool to redirect and confront social issues. They believe that addressing youth unemployment is crucial because they directly experience the impacts of these challenges in their communities.

This project seeks to empower youth by using art as a tool to address issues like skill mismatches and labor market challenges, brain drain and many others, providing a platform for creative expression to raise awareness and propose solutions. Through artistic initiatives, the project aims to ensure that the youth voices, including marginalized youth, are heard in discussions about youth employment and policy change. More than just a project, EmpowerArt Balkans became a movement, showing that art is a powerful tool for advocacy and those young voices deserve to be heard.

ART COMPETITION: As part of the “EmpowerArt Balkans” project, the Artivist Voices published a call “Future Unwritten: Western Balkan Youth Dilemma on Employment” on September 26, 2024, aiming to provide a creative platform for young people to express their perspectives on socio-economic challenges, particularly those related to youth unemployment and its broader implications.

Participants submitted digital or hand-drawn artworks, including caricatures, cartoons, doodles, and abstract pieces. Young people tried to capture the phenomena of migration, educational imbalance, and underemployment in their digital or traditional artwork. The initiative sought not only to provide a platform for artistic expression but also to recognize outstanding contributions. Out of the ten drawings submitted, five won a prize in the form of a gift card. 

    

Since the project did not have an expert jury, one winner was selected through a public vote based on likes on Instagram, while the remaining four winning drawings were chosen by a vote from the project team.

The other works were judged by two of our members with a background in art and one national artist. At the Art Exhibition held in vivo in Tirana, artists who submitted their drawings had the opportunity to share their insights, experiences, and explain the meanings behind their artworks with other participants and youngsters, which helped influence the final selection of winners.

ART EXIBITION/COFFEE TALKS: On January 17, 2025, at Europe House in Tirana, the Artivist Voices organized an Art Exhibition and a Coffee Talk “Connecting with the Western Balkan Youth”, bringing together young people from the Western Balkans to share their perspectives on key challenges such as unemployment, education gaps, and brain drain, while also exploring solutions for a more empowered youth community. The discussion focused on the effectiveness of EU programs in addressing youth issues, the gaps between policy and implementation, and the role of young people in shaping their own future. 

 

Participants engaged in thought-provoking conversations about the mismatch between education and labor market demands, the limited accessibility of youth-targeted financial schemes, and the push-and-pull factors driving brain drain in the region. Additionally, the session encouraged creative brainstorming on how art and activism can serve as tools for advocacy, awareness raising, and fostering stronger civic engagement among youth. The Coffee Talk also served as a platform to celebrate the young artists who had participated in the first call, with their artworks displayed during the event. 

 

Five prizes were awarded to Pegisa Balliu, Angela Bajrami, Maylinda Bajrami, Ambra Troka and Pamela Shushi, with one of them determined through public voting. The submitted artworks were shared on social media, allowing the public to engage and vote for their favorite piece. By combining an exhibition with an open discussion space, the event allowed participants to not only reflect on the challenges they face daily but also explore potential solutions and opportunities for improvement.

PODCASTS: The podcast series titled “Youth Talks“, consisting of three episodes, featured winning artists Pegisa Balliu, Angela Bajrami, and Maylinda Bajrami (selected via public vote), who shared their stories, including the inspiration behind their artwork and discussions on youth migration, unemployment, and activism. The series aimed to amplify the voices of young creatives and explore themes from their winning pieces. It followed the discussions initiated in previous Coffee Talk: Connecting with Western Balkans Youth, providing a platform to dive deeper into the socio-economic challenges faced by youth in the Western Balkans.

They discussed topics like youth unemployment, brain drain, and the factors influencing young people's decisions to stay or leave their home countries. Through informal, conversational dialogues, the podcast fostered a space for authentic discussions on systemic barriers, education, workplace conditions, and policy changes needed to better support youth. The podcasts aimed to inspire and empower young voices, spark meaningful conversations on solutions to youth unemployment, and equip listeners with insights to navigate the job market.

Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE