Open Letter Condemns Edi Rama's Art-Washing and Cultural Destruction in Albania
A group of artists and intellectuals have published an open letter denouncing Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's use of his international art career to distract from his government's authoritarian policies. The letter, signed by 40 individuals including academics, artists, and activists, focuses on the demolition of the National Theatre of Tirana on May 17, 2020, as a symbol of broader cultural and political repression. The signatories accuse Rama of systematically undermining press freedom, human rights, and cultural heritage while leveraging his profile as an artist to gain legitimacy abroad. They call on the international art community to reconsider support for Rama's work, citing his government's attacks on journalists, passage of anti-defamation and anti-KÇK laws, and exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic and a 2019 earthquake to consolidate power. The letter highlights the demolition of the National Theatre, a historic building from 1939 that had been listed among Europe's most endangered heritage sites by Europa Nostra, as a point of no return. The signatories include Jonida Gashi, Vincent W.J. van Gerven Oei, Armando Lulaj, and others from Albania, Kosovo, and international institutions.
Key facts
- Open letter published in June 2020 by 40 artists and intellectuals
- Condemns Edi Rama's art-washing and cultural policies in Albania
- National Theatre of Tirana demolished on May 17, 2020
- Building was constructed by Italian fascist regime in 1939
- Listed among seven most endangered heritage sites in Europe by Europa Nostra
- Rama has been Prime Minister since 2013 and is also an artist
- Signatories include Jonida Gashi, Armando Lulaj, Adrian Paci, and others
- Letter calls for international art community to withdraw support for Rama
Entities
Artists
- Edi Rama
- Jonida Gashi
- Vincent W.J. van Gerven Oei
- Armando Lulaj
- Adela Halo
- Elvis Hoxhaj
- Raino Isto
- Dritan Hyska
- Alketa Ramaj
- Ergin Zaloshnja
- Pleurad Xhafa
- Wendy Morava
- Xheni Karaj
- Eriola Pira
- Sonila Meço
- Adi Krasta
- Wolfgang Staehle
- Katerina Kolozova
- Elvira Dones
- Vasco Dones
- Marco Mazzi
- Neritan Sejamini
- Elidor Mëhilli
- Silvana Toska
- Adrian Paci
- Eni Derhemi
- Alice Elizabeth Taylor
- Vjosa Musliu
- Barbara Halla
- Fatos Lubonja
- Diana Malaj
- Vasilika Laçi
- Lori Lako
- Besar Likmeta
- Gjergji Erëbara
- Hana Qena
- Alketa Sylaj
- Arbërore Sylaj
- Sofia Kalo
- Erion Gjatolli
- Sonja Lau
Institutions
- Artribune
- DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art
- Queen Mary's London
- ARTMargins Online
- SPUTNIK fanzine
- Aleanca LGBT
- Vera List Center for Art and Politics
- The New School
- Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Skopje
- University American College Skopje
- Exit Albania
- City University of New York
- Davidson College
- Art House Shkodër
- Asymptote Journal
- Free University of Brussels
- ATA activist group
- BIRN Albania
- HAVEIT
- European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
- European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
- International Press Institute (IPI)
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
- Europa Nostra
- European Commission
- Partito Socialista
- Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tirana
- ERTV
Locations
- Albania
- Tirana
- The Hague
- Santa Barbara
- London
- Berlin
- New York
- Skopje
- Switzerland
- Florence
- Milan
- Bologna
- Paris
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Chicago
- Prishtina
- Kamza
- North Carolina
- Italy