The Closing Conference marked a successful celebration of young artists, cultural practitioners, and civil society organizations who used culture to strengthen dialogue, trust, and regional cooperation.
Skopje, 19 June 2026 – Culture brought young people together across the region as the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund Closing Conference gathered artists, cultural practitioners, civil society organizations, institutions, donors, and regional partners at Suli An to celebrate the achievements of a program dedicated to intercultural dialogue, peacebuilding, reconciliation, and cooperation through art.
Implemented by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, and co-financed by the 6th Government of WB6, the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund connected cultural scenes across the region by supporting grassroots initiatives that created spaces for dialogue, mutual understanding, and creative collaboration.
Running from August 2023 to September 2026, the Fund supported a growing regional cultural movement, awarding 38 grants to individual cultural practitioners, 53 grants to civil society organizations, and 18 Peace Champion Grants to cultural practitioners recognized for their contribution to peacebuilding. Behind these numbers are stories of young people using culture to meet, exchange, question stereotypes, and build trust across communities.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks by Vladimir Obradović, RYCO Secretary General, Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, and H.E. Petra Drexler, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. They highlighted the importance of investing in youth, culture, and reconciliation as foundations for a more connected Western Balkans.
“When young people create together, they also begin to trust together. The Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund has shown that culture is not only a space for artistic expression, but also a space for dialogue, courage, and regional connection,” said Obradović, RYCO Secretary General.
Reflecting on the importance of culture as a bridge between young people and communities, Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, underlined that initiatives such as the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund play an important role in strengthening regional cooperation and mutual understanding.
“Culture gives young people the space to meet beyond borders, share their stories, and recognize one another as partners in building a more peaceful future. Through the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund, we have seen how creativity can strengthen trust, encourage dialogue, and bring communities across the region closer together,” said Mr. Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth.
Representing Germany’s continued support to youth cooperation and reconciliation in the Western Balkans, H.E. Petra Drexler, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, emphasized the importance of culture as a powerful tool for dialogue, trust-building, and regional connection. She highlighted that the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund reflects Germany’s commitment to supporting young people and cultural actors who use creativity to build bridges between communities and contribute to a more peaceful and cooperative future for the region.
“Germany is proud to support a program that places young people and culture at the heart of reconciliation. These cultural bridges are essential for a peaceful and cooperative future in the region,” said H.E. Petra Drexler, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The formal program continued with a presentation by Kreshnik Loka, RYCO Deputy Secretary General, who reflected on RYCO’s journey over the past decade and the three-year journey of the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund. His presentation highlighted the organization’s continued commitment to youth cooperation, reconciliation, mobility, and intercultural dialogue, while also showcasing how the Fund contributed to strengthening cultural cooperation and trust across the Western Balkans.
“Art allows young people to speak honestly about the world they inherit and boldly about the world they want to build. Supporting young artists means supporting societies that are more open, connected, and ready to move forward together,” said Loka, RYCO Deputy Secretary General.
The conference closed with remarks by Sherife Ismaili, Project Manager of the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund, who reflected on the journey of the Fund and the dedication of the young artists, cultural practitioners, and civil society organizations that brought its mission to life. She highlighted the importance of sustaining the connections, partnerships, and creative networks built through the program, emphasizing that the impact of the Fund will continue through the people, projects, and cultural bridges it helped create across the Western Balkans.
The evening featured a rich artistic and cultural program led by grantees and partners of the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund, who performed, showcased, and presented works developed through regional cooperation. Through movement, film, music, theatre, visual art, and creative exchange, the program highlighted how young artists and cultural practitioners used art to explore shared memories, challenge stereotypes, amplify diverse voices, and strengthen connections across the Western Balkans.
The Closing Conference celebrated more than the completion of a program milestone. It honored the partnerships, trust, and creative networks built through WB YCF, showing how culture can continue to challenge division, inspire dialogue, and contribute to peacebuilding and reconciliation across the Western Balkans.
About the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund
The Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund is a regional initiative implemented by RYCO, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and co-financed by the 6th Governments of WB6. It supports grassroots cultural initiatives that foster regional cooperation, intercultural dialogue, peacebuilding, and reconciliation.
About RYCO
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office is an intergovernmental organization that promotes reconciliation, cooperation, youth exchange, mobility, intercultural learning, and peacebuilding among young people in the Western Balkans.
