TIRANA, June 3 /ATA/ Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, described the presentation of the National Culture Strategy 2026–2030 as the outcome of a process that began in October of last year and was shaped through extensive consultations and numerous meetings conducted at all levels.

Minister Gonxhja stated that the government is currently advancing a comprehensive package of reforms, including work on a new law governing donations and sponsorships for the arts, culture, and sports sectors, a new cinematography and audiovisual law, and a review of the existing legislation on arts and culture.

Efforts are underway to strengthen cultural funding mechanisms through the establishment of new national funds and support structures. These include the National Arts Fund—financed through public procurement savings to expand museum collections, support art acquisitions, and enhance public artworks—as well as the activation of a Cultural Heritage Preservation Fund. In parallel, a new council will be created to channel gambling revenues into creative, cultural, social, and sports projects, broadening financial support for public-interest initiatives.

The minister emphasized the introduction of additional direct funding mechanisms beyond traditional budget limits to better support creative industries and community-focused initiatives through transparent policies starting this year. He also stressed that the key objective is to build a more effective and inclusive cultural system, ensuring that culture is not concentrated in major urban centers but is accessible across the entire country and to all age groups.

The National Culture Strategy 2026–2030 seeks to build a more sustainable and supportive cultural ecosystem that improves conditions for artists and strengthens institutions as trusted centers of creativity, collaboration, and value creation. It also positions culture as a key driver of development through cultural tourism, with benefits for local economies and greater community involvement in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

Specific programs are planned to operate across three main levels: institutional and professional development, territorial and local cooperation, and broader development and modernization.

The Minister also noted that Albania currently allocates around 0.3–0.5% of GDP to culture and recreation, which is less than half of the European Union average of approximately 1.2%.

Through the National Culture Strategy, the government commits to formally doubling the current average level of cultural funding by 2030, aiming to reach 0.8% of GDP in line with comparable EU countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy, with a long-term objective of converging toward the European benchmark of 1–1.2%.

Minister Gonxhja stated that this investment is expected to generate an estimated financial impact of approximately EUR 709 million for the cultural sector economy by 2030.

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