State of Culture in Albania 2025 · Municipal profiles · Artivista Center (Qendra Artivista)
This profile is based on information provided by the Municipality of Shijak in reply to Artivista's request for information on culture (2026), the municipality's medium term budget plans (PBA), and INSTAT's 2023 Population and Housing Census. Amounts are in Albanian lek.
At a glance
| Region (qark) | Durrës |
| Administrative units | 4: Shijak, Gjepalaj, Maminas, Xhafzotaj |
| Area | 92.19 km² |
| Population, 2023 Census | 22,058 (about 239 residents per km²); 20.8% fewer than in 2011 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 19.4% (national average 19.7%) |
| Culture budget | 2.5 million lek in 2020, rising to 9 million lek in 2025 |
| Activities | 10 to 13 a year |
| Staff | 3 in the municipality's culture structure |
| Palace of Culture | Collapsed in the 2019 earthquake, rebuilt with state funds (190.6 million lek) |
| Public consultations | 5 during the period 2020 - 2025 |
Summary
Shijak, between Durrës and Tirana along the Erzen river, is one of the most densely populated municipalities in this series, with about 239 residents per km². Its population fell by 21% between the 2011 and 2023 censuses.
The culture budget grew every year, from 2.5 million lek in 2020 to 9 million lek in 2025, and the municipality supports 10 to 13 activities a year, mostly in the town square. Its Palace of Culture collapsed in the earthquake of 26 November 2019 and was rebuilt with state budget funds; the municipality's budget plans record a project of 190.6 million lek.
The budget plan for 2026 sets 29.8 million lek for culture, which also covers the wages of 7 library and culture staff. A project to rebuild the town library, next to the multifunctional cultural centre, is in preparation.
1. Governance and institutions
The reply names no cultural institution under the municipality; 3 staff work in the municipality's structure for culture. The reply, from the Legal Directorate, was signed on behalf of Mayor Elton Arbana by Deputy Mayor Shpresa Domi. The municipality earns no income from culture.
2. Funding
The approved culture budget was 2.5 million lek in 2020, 4 million lek in 2021 and 2022, 6 million lek in 2023, 8 million lek in 2024 and 9 million lek in 2025, 3.6 times more over the period.
The budget plan for 2026 - 2028 sets 29,807,000 lek for culture in 2026, 26,807,000 lek in 2027 and 30,807,000 lek in 2028. For 2026 this includes 10,807,000 lek for the wages of 7 library and culture staff and 9,000,000 lek for activities, among them “Miss dhe Mister Shijaku”, “Motorr Fest”, “Boxing Night”, “Vera e Portokalle”, veterans' events and the November celebrations.
3. Cultural programme
The municipality organised or supported 10 to 13 activities, festivals or projects a year during the period 2020 - 2025. They take place mainly in the town square and in the municipality's centre, with the administrative units joining as needed.
4. Heritage
The reply states that Shijak has no heritage sites and therefore spent no funds on restoration. The Palace of Culture collapsed in the earthquake of 26 November 2019 and was rebuilt as a social and cultural building with state budget funds; the municipality's budget plans record the project at 190,601,138 lek, with 76,240,000 lek in 2023.
5. Planning and public participation
Shijak has no local plan or policy document for culture. Five public consultations on culture were held during the period 2020 - 2025. The municipality has a project to rebuild the town library next to the multifunctional cultural centre.
Conclusions
- The culture budget grew every year, 3.6 times between 2020 and 2025.
- The 2026 plan triples the culture line, adding staff wages and activities.
- The Palace of Culture was rebuilt with state funds after the 2019 earthquake.
- Activities are concentrated in the town square.
- There is no culture plan, but a library project is in preparation.
Recommendations
Use the new Palace of Culture
A yearly programme for the rebuilt Palace of Culture would make the most of the state's investment.
Bring activities to the villages
Holding some events in Gjepalaj, Maminas and Xhafzotaj would reach more residents.
Report activities each year
Giving the number and type of activities for every year would show how the programme is growing.
Complete the library
Finishing the library project next to the cultural centre would give residents a place to read and meet.
About the data
Population figures come from the INSTAT 2023 Census. Budget, activities, staff, heritage, plans and consultations are as reported by the municipality's Legal Directorate in its reply (22 May 2026). Figures for 2026 - 2028 and the Palace of Culture project come from the municipality's PBA 2026 - 2028 and PBA 2023 - 2025 relacion.
Every effort has been made to base this analysis on the data provided by the municipality, complemented with data from its Medium Term Budget Programmes (PBA) published online. For comments or questions, please contact artivista@arti-vista.org.
This article was prepared within the CulturAL project, with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the National Centre for Community Services and Artivista Center and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
