The theater’s recent demolition came after two years of resistance by actors, writers, artists, and activists, only weeks after the building was nominated one of the seven most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe by Europa Nostra, and after the European Commission called for dialogue about its preservation. This action was preceded by several unconstitutional and illegal acts at various levels of government, while a constitutional court complaint and an anti-corruption investigation against the ownership transfer of the theater from the national to local government was still pending.

A large part of the publicly held land on which the National Theater stood is slated to be turned into privately owned highrise-buildings and shopping malls on the most expensive piece of real-estate in Tirana. The government has publicly admitted that it has no budget to rebuild the theater.

This building, and everything that was inside — costumes, props, and archives of more than eighty years of Albanian theater history — was demolished in the middle of the night on Sunday May 17, 2020, accompanied by wanton police violence, shutting down of all electronic communications in the area, and random arrests.

The “values” and “colors” of Edi Rama’s work as an artist, his speeches and interviews on the international art scene, and the promotional machinery that surrounds his career differ like day and night from the policies his regime is implementing in Albania.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, strongly call upon those in the international art community whose practices align with progressive politics, ethical work practices, and a critical engagement with civil society, to rethink their commitments — and the validity and honesty of these commitments — when collaborating with and promoting the work of an artist–politician whose practice goes against these commitments and who has shown to be an opponent of progressive, democratic, and inclusive ideals in his own country.

We call for solidarity from the international art world with the citizens, activists, and artists of Albania in condemning the actions of the government of Edi Rama, and a thorough reflection on the ethical and artistic implications of exhibiting and supporting his work and by extension his politics.

Feature image: Blerta Hoçia.

This open letter was originally published by Hyperallergic, here. It has been signed almost 200 times at the time of publishing. The original signatories are listed below, while further signatories are being added, here.

Original Signatories:

Jonida Gashi, academic, cultural theorist, and co-founder of DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art, Tirana;

Vincent W.J. van Gerven Oei, journalist and publisher, The Hague/Tirana/Santa Barbara;

Armando Lulaj, artist and filmmaker, co-founder of DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art, Tirana;

Adela Halo, public policy analyst and anti-corruption expert, researcher in 18th century history of ideas at Queen Mary’s, London;

Elvis Hoxhaj, human rights activist, The Hague/Tirana;

Raino Isto, editor, ARTMargins Online;

Dritan Hyska, artist, Tirana/Berlin;

Alketa Ramaj, artist, Tirana;

Ergin Zaloshnja, artist and founder of SPUTNIK fanzine, Tirana;

Pleurad Xhafa, artist and co-founder of DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art, Tirana;

Wendy Morava, scriptwriter and editor, Tirana;

Xheni Karaj, LGBT activist and director of Aleanca LGBT, Tirana;

Eriola Pira, curator, Vera List Center for Art and Politics, The New School, New York;

Sonila Meço, producer, journalist and TV anchor, Tirana;

Adi Krasta, producer, journalist and TV anchor, Tirana/Prishtina;

Wolfgang Staehle, artist, New York;

Katerina Kolozova, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Skopje, Professor of Philosophy, Epistemology and Gender Studies at ISSH and University American College, Skopje;

Elvira Dones, novelist and documentary filmmaker, Switzerland;

Vasco Dones, journalist, Switzerland;

Marco Mazzi, photographer and painter, Florence;

Neritan Sejamini, editor-in-chief, Exit Albania, Tirana;

Elidor Mëhilli, Associate Professor, City University of New York, New York;

Silvana Toska, Assistant Professor, Davidson College, North Carolina;

Adrian Paci, artist, director of Art House, Shkodër/Milan;

Eni Derhemi, artist, art historian, and researcher in post-dictatorship Albanian art, Bologna/Tirana;

Alice Elizabeth Taylor, journalist and media freedom activist, Tirana;

Vjosa Musliu, postdoctoral fellow, Free University of Brussels, Belgium;

Barbara Halla, assistant editor, Asymptote Journal, Tirana/Paris;

Fatos Lubonja, writer and journalist, Tirana;

Diana Malaj, writer and co-founder of activist group ATA, Kamza;

Vasilika Laçi, civil rights activist and feminist, Tirana;

Lori Lako, visual artist, Florence/Tirana;

Besar Likmeta, editor, BIRN Albania;

Gjergji Erëbara, journalist, BIRN Albania;

Hana Qena, artist and co-founder of HAVEIT, Tirana;

Alketa Sylaj, artist and co-founder of HAVEIT, Prishtina;

Arbërore Sylaj, artist and co-founder of HAVEIT, Prishtina;

Sofia Kalo, anthropologist and researcher, Chicago.

Stop artwashing Edi Rama’s politics

An open letter to the international art community.

The Undersigned