The preservation of Albania’s National Theater has been endorsed by Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
The commissioner has expressed her support for the Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered program for 2020, which highlights the most endangered European heritage sites.
Our #culturalheritage helps us understand our history & place in the world. In difficult times like these more important than ever to preserve it! I fully support the #7MostEndangered initiative, highlighting heritage sites in peril. https://t.co/NjShMV1LKx#EuropeForCulture pic.twitter.com/mOhBYpdK9u
— Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) April 3, 2020
Two weeks ago, the theater was officially selected by Europa Nostra as one of the 7 most endangered sites for 2020.
Secretary General of Europa Nostra, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović thanked Commissioner Gabriel and underlined the need for the preservation of these sites as “a source of pride for Europe as a whole”:
Thank you @GabrielMariya for your vital support for our #7MostEndangered initiative!
Together we can save those sites & use them as a source of pride for Europe as a whole!#StrongerTogether #WhateverItTakes #Chacunpourtous #CreativeEuropeAtHome @EIBINSTITUTE https://t.co/sv31Wdbjtx— Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović (@SneskaEN) April 3, 2020
For the past 2 years, Albanian artists and civil society have been battling against government’s plan to demolish the theater and award its public land to private companies to build several residential and commercial towers.
