State of Culture in Albania 2025 · Municipal profiles · Artivista Center (Qendra Artivista)
This profile is based on information provided by the Municipality of Pustec in reply to Artivista's request for information on culture (2026) and INSTAT's 2023 Population and Housing Census. Amounts are in Albanian lek.
At a glance
| Region (qark) | Korçë |
| Territory | 9 villages on the shore of Lake Prespa, with no administrative units |
| Area | 198.68 km² |
| Population, 2023 Census | 1,843 (about 9 residents per km²); 44.0% fewer than in 2011 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 35.1% (national average 19.7%) |
| Culture fund | 200,000 to 800,000 lek a year |
| Cultural institution | Museum “Sterjo Spasse” (2 staff) |
| Main activities | “Vera Kulturore”, “Kayak Fest”, “Zbulo Prespën”, “Prespa në Fara” |
| Museum income | 14,600 lek in 2023, 12,000 in 2024, 14,650 in 2025 |
Summary
Pustec, on the Albanian shore of Lake Prespa, is the smallest municipality in this series, with 1,843 residents in 2023, 44% fewer than in 2011. More than a third of its residents are 65 or older.
The municipality spends between 200,000 and 800,000 lek a year on cultural activities. Its main events are the summer festival “Vera Kulturore”, with artistic groups from North Macedonia and the region, a kayak festival, the photo exhibition “Zbulo Prespën” and “Prespa në Fara”. The Museum “Sterjo Spasse”, with 2 staff, earns 12,000 to 15,000 lek a year from visitors.
The reply says that maintenance work was done on the museum and on the Church of Saint Mary, and that the municipality has projects for culture and heritage that need financing because its budget is limited.
1. Governance and institutions
The only cultural institution is the Museum “Sterjo Spasse”, dedicated to the writer born in the village of Gollomboc, with 2 staff. Culture is also handled by a guide, a One Stop Shop specialist, a specialist for culture, youth and sport, and a specialist for public and media relations.
2. Staff and funding
The fund for cultural activities varied between 200,000 and 800,000 lek a year during the period 2020 - 2025. The reply mentions an attached table with the approved budget and its execution, which was not among the documents received. It lists support of 180,000 lek for “Vera Kulturore” in 2023 and, in 2025, 50,000 lek for “Vera Kulturore”, 100,000 lek for “Kayak Fest”, 100,000 lek for the exhibition “Zbulo Prespën” and 36,000 lek for “Prespa në Fara”. The museum earned 14,600 lek in 2023, 12,000 lek in 2024 and 14,650 lek in 2025.
3. Cultural programme
The programme includes seasonal activities, events at the Museum “Sterjo Spasse”, cultural promotions and the yearly “Vera Kulturore”, with artistic groups from North Macedonia and other parts of the region. In recent years it has added the “Kayak Fest”, the photo exhibition “Zbulo Prespën” and the activity “Prespa në Fara”.
4. Heritage
The reply says maintenance and other work was done on heritage sites, including the Museum “Sterjo Spasse” and the Church of Saint Mary, without giving costs or years.
5. Planning and public participation
The reply states that the municipality has prepared local plans for culture and heritage, approved by the Municipal Council, without naming them. Consultations with the community on culture took place mainly during public hearings.
6. Culture across the municipality
Pustec is made up of 9 villages and has no administrative units. Activities take place in the central square and other public spaces.
Conclusions
- Pustec is the smallest municipality in the series, with a very old population.
- It spends 200,000 to 800,000 lek a year on cultural activities.
- Its events build on Lake Prespa and links with North Macedonia.
- The museum earns a small income from visitors.
- Projects for culture and heritage exist but lack financing.
Recommendations
Publish the culture budget
Sharing the yearly budget and spending for culture, as mentioned in the reply, would complete the picture.
Name the plans
Listing the local plans for culture approved by the Council would help residents and partners follow them.
Seek cross-border funds
Prespa is shared with North Macedonia and Greece; cross-border and EU programmes could fund the projects the municipality cannot pay for alone.
Grow the museum
With small but steady visitor income, the Museum “Sterjo Spasse” could become a meeting point for summer visitors to Prespa.
About the data
Population figures come from the INSTAT 2023 Census. The culture fund, activities, institution, staff, heritage, plans and income are as reported by the municipality in its reply (2026).
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.
