Young artists from Albania will bring “Street Arb” to the heart of the Arbëresh community in Italy

From July 6 to August 3, 2026, Spezzano Albanese (Spixana) will be transformed into a space for reconnecting with roots, in an initiative that goes beyond geographical borders. Through the “Street Arb” project, four young artists from Albania will stay in this important center of the Arbëresh world in Calabria, Italy, turning an artistic residency into a direct link between the country of origin and the historic diaspora.

This project is not presented merely as an urban intervention through street art. Immersed in the social life and historical memory of Spezzano Albanese, the artists will work to visually express a relationship that has remained alive through the centuries, built on traditions, language, and memories preserved with dedication.

In this case, urban art serves as a universal tool for telling a shared story. The presence of young Albanian artists in dialogue with the descendants of the Arbëresh diaspora will turn the walls of the historic center into silent markers of an identity that has not faded, either through distance or time.

The artistic residency also comes as an opportunity for deep cultural exchange, where the energy and contemporary perspective of the younger generation will intertwine with the cultural resilience of the Arbëresh community. From this union, an artistic legacy is expected to emerge that, in addition to adding aesthetic value to the village, also seals a new phase in the long history that inseparably links Albania with its historic communities in Italy.

The initiative is organized by the Regno d’Arbëria Association, within the framework of the territorial marketing project Expo Arbëria, is funded by the European Union, and is implemented by the Goethe-Institut.