Mission
Heritage Space is an experimental cultural initiative dedicated to connecting the preservation of cultural heritage with contemporary and alternative practices in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Through fellowships, educational public programming, and collaborations, HS supports creative and interdisciplinary research and production that strives to preserve and interpret local histories, encourage contemporary cultural debate and exchange, and build meaningful relationships between local practitioners.
Values
Our values inform who we are and how we work. We believe in:
- Intellectual and creative experimentation unconstrained by medium and discipline. We support bold, open and progressive thinking, and strive to learn with and from our audiences and collaborators.
- The importance of history, heritage, and collective memory. We believe in the power of art and creative research to help us better understand our past and live an engaged present that is both responsive to the complexities of the local context and mindful of contemporary global issues.
- The spirit of collaboration. HS is made by the relationships it fosters—among staff, fellows, board, collaborators, and audiences—premised on dialogue, respect and commitment to shared goals.
- Inclusivity, diversity and human rights. HS is dedicated to creating an environment that is open to all.
History
Heritage Space was established in 2016 by Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) Kosova with the purpose of providing novel and experimental approaches to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. CHwB is an independent non-governmental organisation founded in Sweden in 1995. The organisation was founded with the aim of safeguarding cultural property in the event of armed conflicts, natural disasters, neglect, poverty, or political and social conflicts. In 2001, CHwB began working in Kosova on the restoration of cultural heritage destroyed during the 1998-99 war. Over the years, the Kosova branch of CHwB expanded the scope of its activities and eventually registered as an independent foundation in 2015.
CHwB Kosova began implementing the Heritage Space platform in an effort to connect the preservation of intangible cultural heritage with contemporary and alternative practices in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Through an edition-based open call for projects, HS has supported researchers, cultural workers, and artists to encourage a bottom-up, collaborative and experimental approach that aims at opening up the practice of heritage preservation for critical and creative reflection. Thus far, HS has supported a total of 52 projects across various mediums and disciplines.
Since 2024, we have been working towards expanding our programme beyond the open call, with the aim of enhancing our impact in the community through educational public programming, research and publishing initiatives, and meaningful collaborations with other like-minded institutions and practitioners.
Read more about our programming here.
Program Director
Blerta Ismaili
Blerta Ismaili is a cultural worker, sociologist, and program manager at Cultural Heritage Without Borders (CHwB) Kosovo, where she has led the Heritage Space program since 2018. As a Chevening Scholar, Blerta completed her Master’s degree in Cultural and Critical Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, focusing on the intersection of collective memory, historical documentation, and the critique of essentialist narratives, particularly within post-war Kosovo. Her work focuses on facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations between artists, researchers, and cultural practitioners to challenge and reinterpret dominant narratives of heritage. Under her leadership, Heritage Space has developed into a platform that supports critical approaches to heritage-making, emphasizing the preservation of diverse and underrepresented histories. As a co-founder of PART (Punëtorët në Art), Blerta is also engaged in cultural policy activism, focusing on promoting inclusive and sustainable frameworks within the independent cultural sector in Kosovo.
Research & Education Coordinator
Diona Budima
Diona Budima is a researcher, writer, and editor, whose work spans comparative literature, critical theory and psychoanalysis. She holds an M.A. from the University of Bologna, a B.A. from Macalester College, and is a UWC Adriatic alumna. Most recently, her research has focused on Flaubert and transformations of the notion of writing in 19th century French realism. At Heritage Space, Diona leads the Research & Education department and curates "In Conversation," a public talks program featuring artists, writers, cultural workers, thinkers, and scholars, invited to address contemporary issues at the intersection of culture, history, and politics.
HS Fellowship Coordinator
Idila Ibrahimi
Idila Ibrahimi has a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Prishtina. Her undergraduate research focused on the influence of technology and foreign media on Kosovo’s youth, exploring how globalization shapes youth identity and culture. As part of her studies, she spent a semester at Bournemouth University where she undertook coursework in Social and Cultural Anthropology and contributed to a research project in collaboration with Palladium and the university. In addition, she has contributed to several research initiatives in Prishtina, investigating collective memory through the lens of formerly functional, now-abandoned urban spaces. With a strong interest in combining grassroots approaches with a social sciences framework, Idila is passionate about using applied anthropology to address pressing social challenges.
Finance and HR Coordinator
Aulona Muqa
Finance and HR Assistant
Ardita Rapuca
Ardita Rapuca is an accounting professional supporting the financial and administrative operations of Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) Kosovo and the Heritage Space program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Management at the University of Prishtina. As a certified accounting technician with the Society of Certified Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo (SCAAK), she has worked across various sectors in financial reporting, project administration, and human resources management. Her work supports the organization’s financial management and administrative coordination.
ardita.rapuca@chwbkosova.org
We thank our past team members:
Simon Kurti, Rozafa Maliqi, Dardan Zhegrova, Anyla Dautaj, Arbenita Gashi.