Melsi Qirici, Director of the National Culture Center for Children, told ATA that this is the first time that a national contest includes all Albanian-speaking regions.

The original deadline for submitting applications was March 31st. However, as Director Qirici explained, the deadline has been extended to April 27th due to the large number of applications received.

“Up until now, we have received 240 artworks from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, with more expected. The winners of this national contest will be revealed in May, followed by an exhibition displaying the finalists’ works. Prizes and trophies will be presented to the winners in each category,” Melsi Qirici told ATA.

There are three participant categories: age groups 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15.

Participants can still submit their artworks based on the theme: “A Dream.”

The organizers invite children to paint a dream as they imagine it, unleashing their creativity.

Using techniques such as acrylics, watercolors, wood colors, colored pencils, pastels, graphics, mixed media, etc., children are required to paint on an A3-sized paper/cardboard and then send it by mail to the Puppet Theatre.

A panel of external professionals, composed of renowned names in visual arts, will select the best works from each category, from which three winners will be chosen for each category. Only the finalist participants from each category will be notified to take part in the exhibition that will be organized on this occasion in Tirana.

/r.e/sm/