Programme
The first route of the museum ship will be the Mediterranean, an area of millennia of history and exchange, which has always mobilized and nourished the inspiration of artists, and naturally invites intercultural dialogue.
Discover the programme of activities on the quayside and in the towns: performances, concerts, conferences, screenings, workshops, meetings and other events.
Upcoming events
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Experiences on board the museum boat
Experience on reservation. Duration: 45 min.

Workshop Mastro Sol, in preparation of Mastro Sol, Maja Escher
In this workshop, each participant shapes and creates their own edible form (biscuit-flag) made from biscuit dough that will be suspended as part of Mastro Sol, an installation inspired by vernacular celebrations and the mastros de promessa of the Alentejo region, where circular cakes are traditionally suspended on festive structures. Each form preserves the gesture and intention of the person who made it, becoming part of a collective artwork shaped by many hands. On June 27 at 11:30 am, when Mastro Sol is activated by the public, participants are invited to rediscover their own flag, see how it became part of the final installation, and harvest it to share, offer, or eat.

Caravanserá Workshop
Before the performance (on June 27th), audiences are invited to take part in a participatory workshop where movement, sound, and collective actions gradually shape the world of Caravanserá. Inspired by historical “caravanserais” – places of encounter and exchange –, the workshop creates an informal space where participants of different ages contribute to the atmosphere of the performance, blurring the boundaries between audience and performers.

Workshop Mastro Sol, in preparation of Mastro Sol, Maja Escher
In this workshop, each participant shapes and creates their own edible form (biscuit-flag) made from biscuit dough that will be suspended as part of Mastro Sol, an installation inspired by vernacular celebrations and the mastros de promessa of the Alentejo region, where circular cakes are traditionally suspended on festive structures. Each form preserves the gesture and intention of the person who made it, becoming part of a collective artwork shaped by many hands. On June 27 at 11:30 am, when Mastro Sol is activated by the public, participants are invited to rediscover their own flag, see how it became part of the final installation, and harvest it to share, offer, or eat.

Caravanserá Workshop
Before the performance (on June 27th), audiences are invited to take part in a participatory workshop where movement, sound, and collective actions gradually shape the world of Caravanserá. Inspired by historical “caravanserais” – places of encounter and exchange –, the workshop creates an informal space where participants of different ages contribute to the atmosphere of the performance, blurring the boundaries between audience and performers.

NEW BOWING BAND
NEW BOWING BAND is a project aimed at creating an intercontinental band that blends the musical traditions of the diverse cultures found in the municipality of Odemira. It is the stories and musical experiences of each musician that shape this soundscape, marked by a variety of influences. It is, therefore, a gathering of musicians from different countries who come together to play, sing, and, above all, create a new, contemporary, and vibrant sound.

Sopa de Pedra
Sopa de Pedra a Portuguese all-female vocal ensemble that explores the country’s oral traditions, passed down for generations by women through work songs, lullabies, ballads, and festive and religious songs. Their music is based on a cappella polyphony, sometimes accompanied by traditional percussion instruments such as the adufe and the pandeiro. Through their polyphonic arrangements, they breathe new life into a heritage long confined to the domestic sphere, bringing it to the forefront of contemporary stages, both in Portugal and abroad. Concert curated by Alain Weber.

PLO Man
In a DJ set shaped by dense atmospheres and subtle sonic drifts, PLO Man builds a sonic journey where house, techno, breakbeat and dub echoes intersect in a fluid way. Closely connected to the universe of Acting Press, a cult label within the underground electronic scene, he develops an approach attentive to texture, duration and the slow transformations of the dancefloor. The video projection of an original drawing by JAS expands this sensory experience.

KAI – JAS & Pedro Moura
An immersive performance where live drawing and sound unfold together. Through the collaboration between JAS and Pedro Moura, image and music merge into a shared sensory experience.

Bal Moderne
A contemporary dance event where everyone is invited to take part in a lively and joyful late afternoon full of movement. The audience learns, in just a few minutes, choreographies created by international artists, becoming performers themselves. Between learning and celebration, this collective format dissolves the boundaries between stage and audience, fostering connection, sharing, and the discovery of contemporary dance through direct experience.

CAROLF
In an immersive DJ set, CAROLF guides the audience through subtle sonic landscapes, weaving experimental textures, ethereal atmospheres, and sporadic rhythms. Her selection reveals a deep sensitivity to detail and mood. The experience is enhanced by video projections of JAS’s original drawings, creating a sensory dialogue where sound and image merge into a contemplative, ever-evolving universe.

Fiz um foguete imaginando que você vinha, de Janaína Marques
Rosa lies inside an MRI machine. She is asked to think of a happy memory, something she doesn’t have. It is time to create one, by returning to her childhood, when her mother was arrested and accused of murder. And there they are, in a realistic reverie, travelling in an old hot dog van along the dirt roads of northern Brazil. Janaína Marques’ feature debut is a guided tour through a mind in turmoil, its landscapes and its wounds.
Past events

Un paseo mecido. Diego Delas.
Visual artist Diego Delas has designed and conceptualized a series of banners that are a poetic tribute to the relationship between man and the Mediterranean Sea. Each banner, handmade from natural fabrics, incorporates shapes and symbols inspired by nature and the waves, evoking the light and colors of the coastline.
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ANTIPODAS concert in Alain Weber's program
This visual and sensory experience presents the coexistence of two women interacting on stage, inspired by the myth of the double, a theme explored since the Romantic era in literature, film, and philosophy. The dance, flamenco, percussion, and visual poetry of one woman give form to the voice, instrument, melody, and sung poetry of the other.

Mikołaj Sobczak, Gossips. Bar Tore Confidential
Extending his exploration of queer migration, exile, and underground networks, Sobczak weaves together personal and historical encounters, using gossip as a fleeting yet powerful means of community-building and rewriting the past.

Bar Tore
Located in the heart of the village, Bar Tore embraces the many underground stories of bars as alternative spaces for community formation in Albania and Kosovo. Referencing iconic venues such as Bar Iliria in Tirana and Bar Janis in Prizren, the bar serves as both a site of artistic activation and a node of social memory.

Flaka Haliti - Things Keep Falling to Earth
Based on subjective experiences, Flaka Haliti keeps on looking at our fragmented, contradictory present. At the centre of her artistic practice is the individual and the question, how identity is constructed in a global fluid militant world. The three billboards displayed at the Art Explora Festival in Durrës follow an "ethics of proximity" and reference the contradictions of our ambivalent contemporary reality, addressing socio-political issues such as migration and racism.

Free shuttles
Free shuttles are available: Departures every 30 minutes from Durrës town hall. Everyday from 10:30am to closing time (see programme).
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Experiences on board the museum boat
Experience on reservation. Duration: 45 min.

The Present immersive exhibition
Experience on reservation. Duration: 1h00

LIMAN - Electro-traditional music from Turkey
Liman is the exceptional meeting of 3 great musicians from the current Turkish scene: Cem Yildiz, Ramazan Sesler and Ismail Pesluk. Together, they propose a veritable ‘electro-traditional’ exploration based on the rich heritage of Turkish folk music, from Istanbul to the shores of the Black Sea, via the valleys of Anatolia and the Aegean coast.

Elsa Lila - Solo Concert
Elsa Lila, one of Albania’s most beloved and renowned voices, will perform live at the Art Explora Festival in a rare and unmissable concert. Known for her captivating vocal range and emotive performances, Elsa has been a significant figure in both the Albanian and international music scenes. Accompanied by a piano, she will perform a selection of her celebrated repertoire in a truly intimate and memorable performance in the Port of Durrës.

Oda Haliti - Dj Set
Oda Haliti is an internationally acclaimed DJ and music producer based between Prishtina and Berlin. She blends old-school vibes with innovative beats, creating a unique sound that combines global rhythms with local influences.

Minimim
One of the pioneers of the electronic music scene in Albania, Minimim is a promoter, provocateur, aesthetician, and an irreplaceable force in the country’s cultural life. He is the co-founder and resident DJ of Discobox and PepperOn, two well-known spaces, and is one-third of the All Shadows trio. With an active presence spanning over two decades, Minimim is a regular participant in significant local and international festivals.

Kairo Urovi - The Boy With No Name
Printed in large-scale, paneled vinyl, this photograph is displayed at the entrance of the Port of Durrës, inviting visitors into the image itself and into the festival through this shared, suspended moment.

RAFFAELA NALDI ROSSANO - Support Structure for Antro della Sibilla: To hold your dreams
With this spatial intervention, Raffaela Naldi Rossano creates an oracle portal between Durrës and Cuma, both significant Mediterranean sites. The work mirrors protective structures recently introduced at the Antro, addressing the vulnerability of historical sites.

Bora Baboci - Fwd: Reminder
Fwd: Reminder is a newly created installation by Bora Baboçi, reflecting on the areas by the ports and trade routes, where exchanges and negotiations shift the fragile boundaries along the Mediterranean coast.
Frequently asked questions
The Art Explora Festival will take place from spring 2024 to spring 2026 in various Mediterranean cities.
Festival events take place both on the museum boat's quay and in heritage and/or emblematic sites in the stopover towns. To find out all about upcoming events in your town, consult our Agenda.
The Art Explora Festival offers a rich, multi-disciplinary program including visits to the museum ship, exhibition pavilions, virtual reality experiences, artistic performances, concerts, lectures, film screenings, creative workshops and meetings. You'll be able to discover local and international artists, as well as thinkers and cultural players exploring contemporary themes related to the Mediterranean region. To find out all about upcoming events in your city, consult our Agenda.
All Festival events are free of charge. Please note, however, that some events - such as workshops - require a reservation via the ticket office. Please consult the page dedicated to each event for more information on times and booking procedures.
To ensure that everyone has the best possible experience at the Festival, we have drawn up a visitors' charter listing a few good practices.
Yes, the boat is freely accessible on site. However, you can pre-book your time online on our website.
For reasons of safety and preservation of the boat, high heels and stilettos may not be worn on the boat.
To take part in the workshops and meetings offered during the Festival, you'll generally need to register in advance. Information on how to register will be available on the dedicated event page, where you can also find details of times and how to take part.
Yes, the Art Explora Festival also offers child-friendly activities, such as creative workshops specially designed for young participants. Take a look at the program to find out about events and activities for children and families.
The museum boat is open to all free of charge. To find out on which quay it will be moored, or to pre-book your slot, consult the page dedicated to your town.
Appropriate facilities have been set up on the Festival site for the reception and access of people with reduced mobility. The boat is equipped with a 1m-wide ramp, accessible to people with reduced mobility, but may require the accompaniment of a third party due to its gradient of over 6%. Access to the aft deck and immersive exhibition is possible. However, the upper deck is not accessible. Please inform us in advance of any special accessibility requirements, so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
Thank you for your interest in the Art Explora Festival! To find out more about our volunteer opportunities and to apply, please visit our "Become a volunteer"section of our website. There you'll find all the information you need about the roles available and the application procedure. We look forward to meeting you!
We're delighted to consider new partnerships for the Art Explora Festival. To find out how, please visit our dedicated page or write to us at contact@artexplora.org
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