Prior to the Video-conference of EU Ministers in charge of culture, held on 19 May 2020, Europa Nostra has conveyed to Nina Obuljen Koržinek, Croatian Minister of Culture and Acting Chair of the EU Council of Ministers, a letter expressing its strong condemnation of the brutal demolition of the National Theater of Albania in Tirana which took place on 17 May 2020.

For several years, a large civic alliance composed of artists, intellectuals, heritage experts, and civil society activists – The Alliance for the Protection of the Theatre – have been campaigning for the preservation (with necessary renovation) of the National Theater in Tirana.

The National Theatre, constructed in 1938 by the Italian company “Pater Costruzioni Edili Speciali”, was a remarkable example of innovative construction and modern architectural expression from this time period. The architectural significance of the building has been recognized by many international experts not only for the building itself but also for being part of the context of the monumental axis created for Tirana, in the 1920s. In the past years, it became an important cultural centre and now, a symbol of civil society’s will to defend their heritage and the intangible values connected to it.

Europa Nostra has expressed its support to these endeavours as early as in 2018, during the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and has conveyed its concerns about the planned demolition of this Theater to the highest authorities of Albania.

More recently, the National Theater in Tirana has been included on the 2020 List of 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe, following its nomination by the Gjirokastra Foundation. This was made public on 24 March 2020 jointly by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute. The European Commission – through EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel, has also expressed its support to the safeguard of all sites included on our list, including the National Theater in Tirana.

Read the full article here.