Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja stated that public art can no longer rely on random choices or chaotic projects in shared areas. A new rule sets strict professional standards to stop amateur or poorly planned art installations in public spaces.

Under the new rules, you first submit your public artwork request to the local municipality. The municipality reviews the papers and sends the idea to the Ministry of Culture. The State Commission then judges the art and design. If the Commission says no, the municipality must reject the request. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

At the same time, there were disinfected about 470 icons and other museum objects. Also, 730 museum objects were photographed with high quality while 3 objects were photographed with the RTI system.

The exhibition “A Journey on Divine Art” was another important activity during last year. 39 icons and other museum objects were put on display at this exhibition.

In the framework of the 45th anniversary of its opening, the Museum organized the activity in cooperation with Korça Regional Council, where among the many guests was the architect and initiator of the museum Pirro Thomo. There has also been published a summary of all the museum activity, from the formal establishment of the museum’s opening to the present-day. There has also been produced the documentary “45 years of the Museum of Medieval Art”.

Some other important exhibitions were: “Origin and Craftsmanship” on silver and metalwork, the “Religious Publications through the Centuries” within the framework of the program “Between Cultural Heritage and Art”, where religious publications from the 17th-20th centuries were displayed for the first time. Among many other activities of the museum, there is also highlighted the concert of ancient Mediterranean music “Vox baroque”. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

The gallery’s collection contains works by artists from Shkodra and other regions of the country, as well as works by foreign authors, creating a broad panorama of the development of visual art over the years.

According to Director of the Art Gallery Fatmir Juka, the gallery’s fund has been built and enriched continuously, being divided into three main phases that reflect the periods of transition and development of Albanian art after the 1990s. He said that during 2025, about nine new works have been added to the fund, some of which come from exhibitions of contemporary local and foreign artists.

Shkodra Art Gallery also holds works by renowned Albanian painters and sculptors in its archive, serving as a point of reference for scholars, artists and the public.

During the current year, the institution has developed a rich program of cultural activities. In addition to traditional exhibitions, such as the “Idromeno Prize” and the “Autumn Salon”, there have also been organized individual exhibitions, which have brought contemporary creativity to the attention and have encouraged artistic dialogue in the city. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./

The conference examined the relationship between art, urban transformation, and mobility, from local urban spaces to national and international levels.

Stefan Çapaliku, director of the Centre, said this year’s edition focused on the period from 1991 to the present. He noted that the end of state socialism reshaped notions of borders: while freedom of movement became a guaranteed right, the early 1990s’ experience of open borders and mass migration was traumatic and had a significant impact on post-socialist and contemporary Albanian art.

The opening session featured Franco “Bifo” Berardi, social theorist and activist from Italy’s 1970s Autonomia movement, presenting “Auschwitz on the Seashore.”

Other speakers included Sofia Franchini, a PhD student in social anthropology at Cambridge University; Filippo Furri, anthropologist at Institut Convergences Migration in Paris; and Ervin Shehu, PhD candidate in social anthropology at the University of the Aegean.

On the second day, sessions addressed “Social Justice” and “New Geographies.” Presenters included architect Silvia Cafora (University of Bergamo), Luis Guerra Miranda (Madrid), Skënder Luarasi and Mehmet Sinan Bermek (Istanbul), Dimitra Gkitsa (University of Southampton), curators Pati Vardhami and Niovi Zarampouka-Chatzimanou, and Giuseppe Previtali (University of Bergamo).

The conference concluded with analyses by Stefano Romano and Jonida Gashi, who reviewed the presentations and discussions.

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Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja wrote in a post in the social media that Korini was selected by the jury composed of Adela Demetja, Katerina Gregos, Blanche de Lestrange, Elian Stefa and Arnisa Zeqo.

“The jury chose this project as the most convincing among the 17 applications received through the open call as it stands out for the depth of its conceptual framework and the precision of its visual art. This project combines archival research, folklore and imagination. Korini explores the way collective memory and ideology shape identity and space, weaving connections between the Albanian past and its intertwining with the Soviet Union”, Gonxhja underlined.

Minister Gonxhja stated that the jury appreciated the creative re-creation of local visual archives through an absurd and Eastern perspective, as well as his multidimensional and experimental approach to history.

Being developed in collaboration with curator Małgorzata Ludwisiak, the project offers a rich visual and intellectual dialogue, in communication with Polish experimental theater.

Gonxhja wished Korini success with his project.

“We look forward to presentation of the Albanian pavilion in Venice in upcoming May,” said Gonxhja.

Korini works on the intersection of fiction and historical reality, past and present, perception and projection, abstract and representation. Drawing on the cultural and historical frameworks of his country, Albania, his practice examines the way ideology manifests itself through images and form, directly engaging with the politics of aesthetics beyond the legacies of modernity, modernization, post-communism and the neoliberal present. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

One of the week’s major highlights is the final leg of the International Dance Festival of Tirana (IDFT), now entering its third and concluding week. Five performances are scheduled in various locations around the capital.

These include two Mediterranean-inspired works at the National Opera and Ballet Theater; a free two-part program at the National Theatre – Arturbina, focusing on physical strength and resilience; a site-specific choreographic piece at GOCAT Gallery; and a participatory performance at the Pyramid of Tirana.

The National Center for Children’s Culture announced the premiere of “The Heroic Knight” (Kalorësi Hero), a puppet theater production telling the fantastical tale of Guido, a brave Andalusian prince who falls in love with the beautiful Arsinda. Aimed at young audiences, the show blends humor, imagination, and meaningful messages, and will be performed at the Puppet Theater on October 25 and 26.

In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, a concert titled “Better Together” will take place on October 24 at the Cultural Center of the Orthodox Church, as part of the International Cultural Weeks.

Also within the same initiative, Kazakh Cinema Days will present three contemporary films from Kazakhfilm, showcasing the history, emotions, and spirit of Kazakhstan. Screenings will take place at the “Agimi” Art Center in Tirana.

Several art exhibitions are also ongoing across the country, including “No Art Zone” exhibition by Vladimir Myrtezaj at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD), “No Art Zone”, an, remains open to the public.

In Durrës, the “Nikolet Vasia” Gallery is hosting “Sensations”, an exhibition by Emjona Stasi, until the weekend. The city will also hold a literary-musical evening titled “Naim Frashëri – In Memoriam” on Monday evening at the Venetian Tower.

At FAB Gallery in Tirana, works by painter Gazmend Leka continue to be exhibited under the title “The Magic of Drawing”.

In Shkodër, the exhibition “Borrowed Skin” by artist Idlir Koka, curated by Stefano Romano, opens tomorrow at Shkodra ArtHouse.

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30 artisans from the country, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia presented at the fair their unique handmade works.

Hundreds of citizens, but also foreign tourists, showed interest in handicrafts, crafts, culinary works, etc.

Mayor of Gjirokastra Flamur Golemi shared in the social media pieces from the weekend atmosphere in Gjirokastra.

“Kult-Art has brought back to the heart of the stone city the colors, aromas and sounds of tradition, bringing artisans and folk masters, unique handmade works and typical products from all Albanian regions”, said Golemi.

During the evenings, Gjirokastra was filled with folk music, polyphony, dance and traditional clothing, creating a fantastic atmosphere for citizens and tourists.

This fair has become a tradition for the stone city. There has been a high interest, especially from tourists, who want to learn more about the handicrafts produced in Albanian space.

During this autumn season, while Gjirokastra continues to welcome many tourists, the organization of the Kult-Art fair directly affects the promotion of cultural heritage, handicrafts, cuisine and the development of tourism. /k.s/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music company. It has a global network that represents some of the biggest names in world music, such as The Beatles, U2, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and dozens of other iconic artists.

This international reputation adds special weight to their interest in Albania.

Minister Gonxhja explained in the social media that during the conversation, there were discussed on the opportunities offered by our country to combine tourism with art, using the unique nature of Albania as a space for shooting films and artistic productions by prestigious studios such as Universal Video.

The interest in Albania is a good opportunity, positioning Albania in an international network where art, culture and the hospitality industry interact.

Investments in hospitality can be expanded with spaces dedicated to artists, creative studios and theaters, bringing a new approach to the sustainable development of cultural tourism.

“Universal Music Group’s collaboration with the World Tourism Organization and its involvement in projects of this level give this partnership a strategic dimension, paving the way for initiatives that strengthen Albania’s image as an attractive destination for creativity, art and elite tourism”, stated the minister. /r.e/p.s./

With a staff of 87 talented craftsmen, “P&GG shpk” produces works of art that are sent from Albania to the holy places in the world, including the Vatican. These objects, crafted with dedication and extraordinary detail, are evidence of the Albanian creative spirit and professionalism, putting our country on the map of world liturgical art.

During the visit, Minister Gonxhja praised the work and dedication of the craftsmen, emphasizing that, “companies like P&GG are the best example of combining cultural heritage with innovation and the creative economy”.

This visit is another step towards supporting businesses that not only generate economic value, but also promote Albania’s cultural identity in the international arena. /j.p/p.s./

Together with curator Suzana Varvarica, Kryeziu has presented a total of 25 large-format paintings made in oil on canvas technique.

Being focused on a combination of color, subject and texture, Faton Kryeziu makes a profound statement on the cycle of life and death, inviting the public to a dialogue beyond the canvas.

In this exhibition, the contemporary space of the GOCAT art gallery gets transformed into an artistic journey where light and darkness, the beginning and the end, meet in a dynamic harmony.

Curator Suzana Varvarica said that for the painter Faton Kryeziu, “Life and Death” is reality, where everything that has a beginning, has also an ending.

The theme that the artist has chosen for this first exhibition in Albania is   “scorched Kosovo”, also the blooming in spring time, as a good observer of what he has experienced or what has happened to the country in which he lives. /j.p/p.s./