The Tirana Art Residency – Vila 31 x Art Explora is an international residency programme supporting contemporary artistic creation and research, with a strong emphasis on engagement with the cultural, social, and political contexts of the Balkan region. Located in Vila 31, the former house of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, the residency offers artists, researchers, curators, and writers the opportunity to develop their work in dialogue with the region and beyond. The residency encourages transdisciplinary practices and intergenerational exchange, welcoming projects that engage with contemporary issues such as social transformation, ecology, technological innovation, and cultural memory. Following the successful inauguration of Vila 31 x Art Explora and its first full year of programming in 2025, the residency has hosted 29 artists from 15 nationalities and presented over 100 public activities, welcoming more than 30,000 visitors. In 2026, the programme will continue with 27 artists from diverse backgrounds, alongside ongoing public cultural and educational activities. Within this context, Vila 31 x Art Explora is establishing itself as an emerging cultural hub, organizing exhibitions, workshops, screenings, performances, talks, symposiums, and festivals in collaboration with local institutions, schools, associations, and cultural actors, fostering meaningful encounters between residents and audiences. The Tirana residency programme embodies Art Explora’s growing recognition as a key expert in artist residencies and contemporary art networks on an international scale. Alongside its Paris residencies, developed in partnership with the Cité internationale des arts, and its cross- residency programme through the Mediterranean, following the travelling Art Explora Festival, Vila 31 plays an integral role in a dynamic ecosystem that fosters artistic exchange, transcultural dialogue, and the circulation of ideas beyond borders.