AN INTERVIEW WITH COD DIRECTOR, ENA BULKU: 2022, A SURPRISING YEAR

- WE NEED TO CREATE IDEAS TO DRESS THE COD WITH LIFE -

BY RUDINA HOXHA- Photos: COD

In an exclusive interview with

TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE, Ena Bulku, Director of Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) makes a general panorama of 2021 with all its challenges and achievements while assures that 2022 will be another year full of events where everyone can find the space that suits them best.

Thank you for accepting our request for this interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE!

Please can you tell how did Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) come into being and how would you describe it program and vision?

Thank you also for your interest in our work and it is my pleasure to talk to you today about the Center for Openness and Dialogue which we shortly call COD. The Center for Openness and Dialogue is an initiative of the Prime Minister Edi Rama, who transformed part of the seat of the Council of Ministers into a citizen-centric space that conveys the message of openness, transparency and transformation. COD opened its doors on 8 July 2015, and since then the center have been an emblematic institution that co-exist with the citizens, inviting them to share their diversity of opinions. COD represents a multifaceted

opportunity of expression for art people, the academia, civil society, politics and most important for young generations who are the ‘open doors’ of the future generations.

What sets COD apart?

COD has initiated projects concerning arts, social debate and cultural education, as well as has set quality standards in the organizations of events and art performances. Offering the centers facilities for free to the public, such as the library of the Prime Minister’s Office, counting more than 5,500 special books and the digitalized archives of the Council of Ministers from 1920; The ‘Forum’

hall, a mini theatre-like cinema where can be projected documentaries, movie promotions and videos to raise awareness; The exhibiting spaces of the Center, including the Protocol hall and of course the meeting room, a place designed in a way that anybody can feel equally important to everyone else inside. These facilities are run on an integrated schedule that includes exhibitions, book presentations, conversations, film screenings, discussion forums, international conferences, protocol ceremonies etc.

COD is also a space for education, where children and young people feel free to engage in discussion, thanks

to the interactive programs dedicated to them. For four years now, we have been dedicated to create and promote different programs with their focus on educating the new generations and giving them a space when their voice can be heard.

What has been its impact in these 6 years?

Every year COD counts over 50,000 visitors, who not only came to enjoy the diverse exhibitions we open, but also participated in various activities of the center.

COD is a space that is constantly evolving and changing over time, but what always remains the same is welcoming visitors who can always enter for free, every day, from Monday to Saturday. At the end of this year, we will publish a summary catalog of the journey that COD has had during these years, from July 2015 until now. Of course, there is a lot to say and not everything can be summarized within the pages of a catalog, but for us it was important to have a historical publication of our center which has already become a reference point for many citizens.

Can you tell us more about the current events COD is hosting and what we should expect for 2022?

At COD surprises are never lacking and we are already completing the calendar of 2022, not only with exhibitions by local and foreign artists, but also with very interesting programs focused on areas such as cinematography, literature, education, fine arts, music and culture. I would not like to reveal more details, as we like the surprise effect we have on the public and our loyal visitors, but I assure you that 2022 will be another year full of events where everyone can find the space that suits them best.

What can you say about the efforts and work you and COD Team realized during 2021?

The year 2021 was another year full of challenges for us at COD, as the pandemic continues to be present and we all feel the limitations that this situation creates for us. We would like to have more guests invited at each of our events, we would like to welcome more artists from around the world, thus creating new bridges in international culture. But we had to adapt and also reschedule most of our programs online, through our social media pages and through our 3D virtual tours.

Despite this, I can proudly say that we managed to be one of the spaces where visitors could be present every day, even in pandemic conditions. The year 2021 that we are now leaving behind, was dedicated to Albanian artists, giving them the space to exhibit their works, at a time when the community of artists was very much hit by the pandemic. This year, we had present not only exhibitions from different genres such as photography, installation, sculpture and painting, but also concerts or film screenings and book promotions. But I want to emphasize

that all this commitment comes thanks to a dedicated staff working in COD, and I want to than each of them for their unstoppable everyday work.

Can you elaborate on the COD’s vision to push new frontiers and can you give an example of the new formats that have been introduced to the audience?

I think COD has the potential to evolve even more in the future. Thanks to the innovative architecture and the interactive space, this is an out-of-the-

ordinary center where spaces are created to realize programs of different natures. We have recently adapted a new program which started as experimental but proved to be successful. I’m talking about the program titled “Performed Readings” where every month a famous Albanian actress performs in one of the spaces of the center, selecting a certain work or writer. Admission to any show is free for anyone who wants to enjoy a different and very special performance.

We are working to constantly bringinnovation in various fields as I quoted alittle above according 2022, but always

keeping in our focus the visitors and the public, not only those who are already permanent friends of our center, but also new visitors who still didn’t had the opportunity to come to COD. In the end I would like to quote what I always say to the staff whenever they need a shot of motivation: ‘We are lucky to work in one of the most inspiring spaces here in Albania, all we need is to create new ideas for dressing this center with life. ‘

Thank you and looking through to seeyou soon at COD.