New Opera House, Art Gallery director take over

TIRANA, Oct. 30 – Ilir Kerni and Artan Shabani have been appointed as directors of the most two important performing arts institutions in Albania. Ilir Kerni, 59 a professional ballet dancer who spend most of his career as a soloists in Croatia, has been appointed the director of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, replacing maestro Zhani Ciko. The National Arts Gallery will be led by Artan Shabani, 44, a renowned Albanian artist and curator, also the founder of the Promenade gallery in Vlora, who replaces Rubens Shima.
Introducing the two new directors, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the new directors face the challenge of “creating a Albania artistic space as a new reference in the cultural map of Southeast Europe.” The Prime Minister expressed the government commitment to implement a thorough reform in the culture and art system to open a new page in the governance of culture and its institutions.