TIRANA, July 24 /ATA/ – Albania’s National Program for Culture and Creativity Grants has funded 933 cultural events in 2025, more than double the number supported the previous year, the Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation (MEKI), Blendi Gonxhja announced Thursday.
Citing official data on cultural events in the country, Gonxhja noted that the supported projects include festivals, exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, craft fairs, and theatrical performances, enriching the national cultural calendar.
A total of 275 winning projects were selected across four funding schemes, marking a 37% increase from 2024.
Of these, 129 projects fall under cultural and creative events, 45 are cultural programs by organizations, 54 received backing from the Creativity Fund, and 47 from the Artisan Fund.
This year, first-time recipients made up 51% of all grantees, and financial support surged by 141% year-on-year to 300 million lek. Over 1,500 individuals – including artists, artisans, cultural managers, and technicians—were employed or engaged through the program.
Minister Blendi Gonxhja pledged further support for artists and cultural institutions in 2026.
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