SAVE SHQIPVILLE CULTURAL HOUSE
To Philippe Close, Mayor of Brussels, Collège des Bourgmestre et Echevins, to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, to the European Commission and national EU governments, European Parliament, Brussels Parlement, le Parlement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Vlaams Parlement, Federaal Parlement, Parlement Francophone Bruxellois, Parlement De la Communaute Française, International Press
This petition is run by [% inititator_name %]
Petition
ShqipVille (Maison Culturelle Belgo-Albanaise ASBL), a unique and beloved cultural centre in the heart of Brussels, is being forced to stop its activities, and we urgently need your support to prevent this from happening.
• Sign and share the petition
• Speak out about the importance of protecting community spaces and heritage
• Share our story in your networks, organisations, and circles of influence
We need your voice. Your solidarity. Your support.
Let’s keep ShqipVille alive and its soul untouched. Let’s keep this dream beating.
Why is this important?
Currently housed in one of the oldest and most iconic buildings on Brussels’ Grand-Place, ShqipVille is more than a cultural centre: it is a living bridge between Albanian and Belgian identities and heritages, a space where music, literature, language, and shared stories bring people together. Here, diversity is not just a word: it is a way of life and a welcoming attitude celebrated and nurtured on a daily basis.
To all of you who have visited ShqipVille, or taken part in our activities, you already know this: ShqipVille is not just a cultural centre. It is a living, breathing dream led by the Albanian community in Belgium. It is a vibrant place in the heart of Europe, conceived and managed as a safe space, a welcoming harbour, and a symbol of shared belonging for everyone.
Born from the need of integration and inclusion, and built without political or financial backing, ShqipVille has flourished and in less than 3 years, it has quickly become a true home for art, dialogue, learning, and inclusion by welcoming residents, newcomers, the curious, and contributors from diverse backgrounds. Writers, musicians, painters, journalists, actors, civil society organisations, educators, artisans - from across the world – they’ve all found here their voice and their stage.
ShqipVille is a concrete bridge between cultures and a symbol of what Europe can become: a continent of genuine inclusion, diversity, and shared citizenship practices, built from the bottom up instead of the top down. Albania, as a candidate country to join the EU, needs places like this, community hubs where future citizenship is built together, every single day, through inclusive growth and civic participation.
Nowadays, we are the only civil society organisation in Brussels offering professionally structured, free courses specifically designed for adult foreign learners. This is not only education: it is empowerment, integration, and dignity in action.
ShqipVille has been built on two unshakable foundations:
No political affiliations - We welcome diverse views, stand against discrimination, and foster meaningful dialogue.
No shady money – Despite evident financial struggles, we have never accepted support from untrustworthy sources. We remain fully committed to upholding the values and practices of transparency and integrity.
Losing this space would mean losing more than a building. It would mean silencing voices, breaking connections, and stepping back from a genuinely inclusive, intercultural future.