In a social media post, Gonxhja stated that the meeting marks a concrete step in implementing the memorandum of understanding on cooperation with MAXXI, which was signed in Rome during the intergovernmental meeting between Albania and Italy.

The discussion covered cooperation in the fields of archives and digitization, the organization of joint exhibitions, exchange programs, audiovisual co-productions and the strengthening of museum networks.

According to Gonxhja, the goal is to create more opportunities for cultural professionals, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and increase public access to the art and cultural heritage of both countries.

“Albania and Italy share a long-standing friendship, enriched through mutual understanding and creativity,” emphasized Gonxhja, highlighting the importance of concrete projects and closer ties between people and cultural institutions.

Collaborating with Italian cultural institutions aims to foster artistic exchange and unlock new opportunities for joint projects between Albania and Italy.

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Attending the meeting were also the representatives of the management level of MAXXI, such as Eleonora D’Alessandro, Lorenza Baroncelli and Pippo Ciorra, as well as the Italian Institute of Culture in Tirana, represented by director Alessandro Ruggera, together with representatives from the National Gallery of Arts and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports.

In a post on social networks, Gonxhja wrote that, “The document presents a forward-looking vision for the Gallery: developing capacity, improving institutional support, driving joint projects and adopting European standards”.

“The new four-year partnership will accelerate the modernization of Albania’s cultural infrastructure, arts education and creative scene,” Gonxhja emphasized.

We aim to address core institutional challenges by evaluating contemporary management models, restructuring the organization and building a sustainable financial model.

The report aims to identify the main institutional challenges, analyze contemporary models of administration and management, propose a new organizational structure and build a financial model for long-term sustainability.

Based on the memorandum of cooperation, signed in Rome between the MAXXI Foundation and the National Gallery of Arts of Albania, the institutions will have an independent three-year institutional cooperation (2025–2028).

Through the partnership, Albania benefits from the many years of expertise of a leading institution in the field of contemporary art and architecture, such as the MAXXI Foundation – National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Festive installations were set up across key landmarks, drawing residents and foreign tourists alike to mark the symbolic day.

ATA photojournalist Florian Abazaj captured scenes from the celebrations, which brought together young couples, families and children in various parts of the city.

In the central Skanderbeg Square, decorative light installations provided a popular backdrop for photographs, as couples, families and tourists gathered to take pictures and exchange flowers.

Valentine’s-themed décor was also visible at other prominent locations, including the Air Albania Stadium, the Artificial Lake Park and the Tirana Zoo, which became gathering points throughout the day.

While widely seen as a celebration for couples, Valentine’s Day in Tirana has also taken on a broader festive character, adding colour and vibrancy to the city.

Feb. 14 is observed in the Christian calendar as the feast day of Saint Valentine, a martyr and saint. According to legend, he became associated with lovers after officiating a marriage between a pagan Roman soldier and a Christian woman. Another tradition holds that he encouraged reconciliation between a young couple by giving them a rose and later blessed their union.

In time, couples began travelling to the Italian town of Terni on Feb. 14 to seek Saint Valentine’s blessing for their relationships.

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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./

In this exhibition, the author has presented a wide selection of works of art with motifs of nature, mother, flowers, the sea and everyday life, reflecting his artistic sensitivity and expressiveness.

The opening of this exhibition in his city of origin was also exciting for the author who lives in Spain.

Mayor of Korça Sotiraq Filo congratulated the painter Niko Mosko for what he called his impressive appearance.

Niko Mosko was born in Korça, in 1972. Since 2003, he has been living and working in Palma de Mallorca where the vision of the sea with its contrasts, bright blue and eternal movement, marks his creativity.

Mosko has participated in exhibitions and competitions and has won numerous awards in Spain, Greece, as well as other events held in Korça and Tirana.

The exhibition will remain open until November 9. /j.p/p.s./

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja visited the exhibition this evening, appreciating it as “a unique journey through the history of Albania”.

“A unique journey through the history of Albania, masterfully captured by the lens of the Marubi family, which brings to light a century of memories, traditions and photographic art”, he said.

The exhibition features extraordinary photographs from the collections of three generations of photographers of the Marubi Dynasty, Pietro, Kel and Gegë Marubi, images from the archive (1865-1959) with over 150 thousand negative glass plates of the “Marubi” National Museum in Shkodra.

These images were exhibited at the Amsterdam Photography Museum FOAM in 2016 and at the National Photography Museum “Marubi” in 2019. /r.e/p.s./

The old building, dating back to 1970s, had serious structural problems, and no longer met any standard for the exhibition and preservation of works of art, or for the development of cultural events.

According to the project designed by “Atelier 4” studio, there is also increased the exhibition space, the space for preservation of works of art and digitization and the space for social-cultural activities. In addition, there are added special rooms for sculpture, painting, drawings, ceramics, etc., as well as restoration rooms with direct access from the elevators for the large works of arts.

Minister Gonxhja highlighted that about 40% of the works have been completed, but it has been the most difficult part. Hence we are at a satisfactory moment in the progress of the works. Work is underway on both buildings, the old building and the new building.

“According to the project, the space of ​​events and activities from the project has increased tenfold compared to what the Gallery of Arts once had the capacity to do. The exhibition area has almost tripled. The archive area has increased by four-fivefold”, said Minister Gonxhja.

For his part, PM Rama was interested in the technical details of the project, which foresees a communication between the two buildings: the old and the new.

“The new building was added respecting the old object and keeping this glass gallery. The visit starts from the existing building and then the visitors cross into the other building, where there are other added spaces. There will also be restore the skylight,” explained the representative of the design studio.

The works at the National Gallery of Fine Arts are expected to be completed by the end of the current year. /r.e/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama took to the social media to share images of the rebuilt sports facilities.

“Transformed sport grounds at Adem Haxhija high school in Postribë, Shkoder,” Rama wrote.

Shkoder Mayor Benet Beci also said that Adem Haxhija high school students return to their school after the winter holidays to find completely transformed sports grounds.

The school renovation project is one of the investments supported by the Ministry of Education and Sports in Shkoder Municipality to meet contemporary European standards and infrastructure and provide spaces for optimum education, as well as to offer students and local community with transformed sport grounds.

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“SpringArt” is an artistic group founded in the spring of 2010. The idea of ​​this name is related to an early memory, of the “Spring” exhibition dating back to 1972 when the artists tried to do something different beyond the rigid and strict standards of that time, while the communist regime condemned this movement.

This year, the 15th edition of “SpringArt” is realized under the auspices of painter Lazar Taçi and sculptor Maksim Bushi.

There has been a larger number of participants to the “SpringArt” while the gallery’s ongoing aim is to promote new names in Albanian art.

This edition of “SpringArt” will remain open to the public until November 30 and has on display the works of art by 51 artists. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

The government head said that his visit to the United States was also a tour of honour on the UN General Assembly high-level week in New York.

PM Rama delivered a speech to the 79th session of the United Nations General, urging the five EU member states and other countries around the world to recognize Kosovo as an irreversible reality and calling for a renewed sense of global cooperation to tackle today’s pressing challenges.

The Albanian government head also addressed the UN High-level Event, Summit of the Future Action Day.

Premier Rama focused on pros and cons of the modern times technology and new challenges as he took the floor during an interactive dialogue session entitled “Towards a Common Digital Future”.

During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Edi Rama attended a special event “Bridging Nations: A Tribute to Prime Minister Edi Rama” held during the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week. Hosted by Jewish organizations, the event was dedicated to Albania and celebrated Prime Minister Edi Rama’s pivotal role in promoting unity among Balkan countries and fostering closer ties with other European nations and the United States, as well as his dedicated efforts to protect the rights of minority communities and fight anti-Semitism.

The government head also attended an engaging conversation with representatives from 100 Albanian associations in America, an event organized by activist Mark Gjonaj, the meeting aimed to strengthen ties with the vibrant Albanian diaspora.

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