First private museum opened in Tirana

TIRANA, March.16 – The first private museum in Albania was inaugurated with an exposition of more than 3500 art works of Albanian artists, both traditional and contemporary. The museum is located in the Kavaja Street and hosts an archeological collection with works from the prehistoric times. “Mezuraj Muze”, named after the two brothers who came up with the project, Eduard and Leonard Mezuraj, took no less than 10 years to be realized. The owners have named the experienced historian and art lover Moikom Zeqo as the General Director. The activities are regulated by the Albanian Law on heritage that is valid for public museums and art galleries as well. Sensitive transactions like purchases have to be registered with the respective national authority: The Center for the Registering and Evaluation of the National Albanian Heritage.
The museum has a collection of well-known Albanian painters starting from Ismail Lulani (1933-2003), Kol롉dromeno (1860-1939), Simon Rrota, Fatmir Haxhiu, etc. The museum has revived an old European renaissance tradition of employing regularly contemporary artists who will display their work in the ambiances offered. Hence Artur Muharremi and Helidon Haliti, well known names of Albanian modern art, will show their paintings in the Mezuraj Museum. The museum has also acquired collections from Gazmend Leka, Ilia Xhokaxhi, Pano Kondo, and the sculptor Adnan Bushati. The museum has two sites: The arts Gallery Mezuraj and a building in the Durres-Tirana highway with a exhibition capacity twice that of the National museum of Albania, that will be used for future activities. The benefits of the museum include more independence and funding for organizing diverse events and projects related to art. Moikom Zeqo evaluates the opening of this museum as a late but necessary step. The European countries have an old tradition of private and family museums. The example in Albania, according to Zeqo is the traditional Shkodra family Suma that ha to be institutionalized from the state. The practice of private museums can help in avoiding trafficking of art works because a private museum creates facilities for the legal purchase.
Few people are aware that Albania has been among the first places to have a private museum. Located in the vicinities of Butrint, villa Amaltion has served as a private museum for a long time. The tradition of family museums has been first noticed in the first years of the the 20th century with noble families like those of Eqerem Vlora, Lef Nosi, Mithat Frash쳩, Sotir Kolea, Jorgji Meksi, Jashar Erebara, Teki Selenica, Ilo Mitk롑af컥zi, Idriz Guri, Shtjef쮠Gje谶i, having valuable collections. Another rich collection in Albania was privately held by lord Paxheti, an Englishmen who lived in Shkodra during the First World War. During communism all art works were put in state held collective museums and the tradition of private collections was condemned.
The Mezuraj Museum thus reopens a chapter for Albanian art. The museum welcomes visitors every day except weekends and offer student discounts.