The agreement was signed at the Academy of Sciences of Albania by the heads of the three institutions, namely Luçjan Bedeni, Valbona Zhupa and Stefan Çapaliku, establishes a lasting partnership aimed at creating a create an Albanian Photographic Anthology under a project initiated by the Marubi National Museum of Photography to promote the Albanian photographic heritage.

The head of the Centre of Art Studies, academician Stefan Çapaliku said in his remarks at the signing ceremony acknowledged that little focus has been paid to the country’s photographic heritage to date, highlighting the need for preservation of the rich photo archive.

“We are delighted to welcome the initiative launched by Dr. Bedeni to establish partnership on compiling a first retrospective anthology of Albanian photography. Shkoder-based Marubi museum houses the largest archive of the Albanian photography, but Albanian Telegraphic Agency also holds a very rich photo archive. Building upon these two main sources, as well as other sources that may come to light during our research at the Centre for Art Studies, we will hopefully succeed in creating a very important photographic anthology in the next two years,” Çapaliku said.

The Director of Marubi Museum, noted that the cooperation with ATA was not coincidental, but an outcome of earlier partnership, underlining that the state-owned news organization is home to the second-richest photo archive, mainly documenting history of Albania’s socialist realism between 1953 to the ‘90s and onward.

On her part, Director General of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, Valbona Zhupa said that although creation of this anthology is long overdue,it will serve to bring back into memory the names of Albanian photographers and the value of their work.

“ATA is the only official news agency in the country founded since 1912. The Agency holds an extensive archive of over 260,000 photos and negatives, currently undergoing digitalization. This initiative is expected to be invaluable for researchers, historians, and even tourists who wish to explore the socialist realism era,” Zhupa said.

“I am pleased that this anthology will recall the names of photographers, some of whom have passed, but whose work is preserved in our archive. ATSH will play a crucial role in promoting the study of photography and presenting an authentic narrative for both present and future generations,” Zhupa added.

ATA Director emphasized the Agency’s contribution to creating this special anthology aimed at promoting the country’s photographic heritage.

Under the Anthology of Albanian Photography project, a series of visits and meetings will take place at institutions containing photographic records in order to scan images that could be suitable to be included on this book.

Joint meetings will also be hosted to discuss the structure of the publication and its content. The three institutions will also commit to hosting open conversations for the public to promote and learn more about this anthology.

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