State of Culture in Albania 2025 · Municipal profiles · Artivista Center (Qendra Artivista)
This profile is based on information provided by the Municipality of Përmet 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) | Gjirokastër |
| Administrative units | 5: Përmet, Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë |
| Area | 602.47 km² |
| Population, 2023 Census | 7,980 (about 13 residents per km²); 24.8% fewer than in 2011 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 30.0% (national average 19.7%) |
| Culture budget | 28.41 million lek planned, 20.87 million spent (73.5%); the reply does not give the year |
| Cultural institutions | Cinema “13 Shtatori”, Multifunctional Centre, Library “Lliko Nano”, Youth Centre “Ollga Shuraja”, Children's Cultural Centre |
| Staff | 15 |
| Activities | About 100 a year |
| Public consultations | About 6 a year |
Summary
Përmet, the town of roses on the Vjosa, has fewer than 8,000 residents, three in ten of them 65 or older. Its culture is run through five institutions, from the Multifunctional Centre to the Children's Cultural Centre, with 15 staff.
The municipality reports a culture budget of 28.41 million lek, of which 20.87 million lek, or 73.5%, was spent; the reply does not say for which year. It organises about 100 cultural, artistic, tourist and social activities a year through monthly calendars, and in 2025 it had a fund of 1.7 million lek for events, about half of which supported events by civil society organisations.
The Ministry of Culture restored two monuments in the village of Bënjë. Since 2024 an Artistic Council approves the yearly cultural programme, and about six public consultations are held each year.
1. Governance and institutions
The Cinema “13 Shtatori” in Varosh has 2 staff, the Multifunctional Centre on the Odhise Paskali promenade 10, the City Library “Lliko Nano” on Laver Bariu Street 2, and the Youth Centre “Ollga Shuraja” on Meleq Gosnishti Street 2. The Children's Cultural Centre, next to the Youth Centre, has 2 staff and some part-time instructors. The reply gives 15 staff for the culture structures as a whole, stable over the years; the institutions' figures add up to 18.
2. Staff and funding
The municipality's budget plan for 2022 - 2024 shows the culture programme separately: 3,232,000 lek in 2019, 8,368,000 lek in 2020 and 16,834,000 lek in 2021, a year with 8,776,000 lek of investment. It planned 7,005,000 lek for 2022, 8,128,000 lek for 2023 and 8,500,000 lek for 2024, mostly for wages, with 1.0 to 2.0 million lek a year for activities and the upkeep of the library, cinema and museum.
Under the budget programme for culture, the main line had 20,940,634 lek planned and 15,420,286 lek spent, a second line 4,967,000 and 3,066,859 lek, and a third 2,500,000 and 2,380,510 lek, in total 28,407,634 lek planned and 20,867,655 lek spent. More details are published in the municipality's transparency programme online. The municipality has set fees for its halls and for entry to the Local Museum, but often waives them to support activities.
3. Cultural programme
About 100 activities a year are organised through monthly calendars, by the culture staff and by cultural organisations in Përmet. The municipality procures a yearly cultural and artistic programme and supports requests from civil society organisations. In 2025 the fund for culture was 1,700,000 lek, about half of which supported events by civil society organisations.
4. Heritage
Two heritage sites were restored during the period 2020 - 2025, both in the village of Bënjë: the Church of Shën e Premte and the Katiu Bridge. The works were funded by the Ministry of Culture.
5. Planning and public participation
Përmet has no local plan or strategy for culture. In November 2024 the Municipal Council set up an Artistic Council, which approves the yearly cultural programme. About six public consultations on culture are held each year while the next year's budget is prepared, with interest groups, local institutions and civil society organisations. Projects in progress include new pavilions for the Local Museum, the restoration of the Unknown Soldier monument with support from the County Council, and more activities in the villages.
6. Culture across the municipality
Events take place at the Unknown Soldier monument, Abdyl Frashëri Square, the Congress of Përmet hall, the Multifunctional Centre, the Cinema and the Youth Centre. In the villages, the summer festivals are held in Badlonjë (13 August), Kosinë (14 August), Qilarisht (15 August) and Zhepë (16 August).
Conclusions
- Five institutions with 15 staff deliver culture in Përmet.
- 73.5% of the reported culture budget was spent; the reply does not give the year.
- About 100 activities are organised each year, including village festivals in August.
- The Ministry of Culture restored two monuments in Bënjë.
- An Artistic Council has approved the yearly programme since 2024.
Recommendations
Report the budget by year
Giving the culture budget and spending for each year 2020 - 2025 would show how support for culture has changed.
A culture strategy
The Artistic Council could prepare a short strategy, discussed with residents, to guide the yearly programmes.
Finish the Local Museum
Completing the museum pavilions and opening them to visitors would add to Përmet's attraction for tourists.
Look for wider support
Heritage in Bënjë, Frashër and the Vjosa valley could attract national and EU funding for restoration and promotion.
About the data
Population figures come from the INSTAT 2023 Census. Budget, activities, institutions, staff, heritage, consultations and plans are as reported by the municipality in its reply (2026). Budget figures for 2019 - 2024 come from the municipality's medium term budget plan (PBA) 2022 - 2024.
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.
