On International Mother Language Day, the Center for Studies and Publications on Arbëresh (QSPA) launched the second edition of the poetry competition “Krenarbëria: Arbëresh Poetry.”

This year’s theme, “Without the Past, There Is No Present – Without Arbëresh, There Are No Arbëreshë,” highlights the essential role of language in preserving Arbëresh identity and heritage.

The competition aims to foster artistic expression among young Arbëresh poets, encouraging bilingual creativity as both a means of communication and an inspiration for exploring Arbëresh history, traditions, and cultural legacy.

Poets aged 18 to 45 with Arbëresh ancestry or ties to the Arbëresh community are invited to submit their entries by May 21, 2025.

This year’s theme addresses the urgent threat to the Arbëresh language, which faces declining transmission among younger generations due to globalization. UNESCO has classified Arbëresh as a severely endangered language, underscoring the need for immediate action to preserve it.

Through this initiative, QSPA seeks to reawaken interest in this linguistic and cultural treasure, passed down for nearly 600 years. Winners will be announced on May 30, followed by an awards ceremony in early June 2025.

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