State of Culture in Albania 2025 · Municipal profiles · Artivista Center (Qendra Artivista)
This profile is based on information provided by the Municipality of Rrogozhinë 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) | Tiranë |
| Administrative units | 5: Rrogozhinë, Gosë, Kryevidh, Lekaj, Sinaballaj |
| Area | 223.5 km² |
| Population, 2023 Census | 12,567 (about 56 residents per km²); 43.3% fewer than in 2011 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 25.0% (national average 19.7%) |
| Culture budget, 2025 | 4.2 million lek, of which 70% (2.94 million) was spent |
| Cultural institution | Palace of Culture “Haxhi Memolla” (7 staff) |
| Activities, 2025 | 42 |
| Budget plan for culture, 2026 | About 9.4 million lek (state grant and own revenue) |
Summary
Rrogozhinë, on the Shkumbin river near the coast, lost 43% of its population between the 2011 and 2023 censuses; a quarter of its residents are 65 or older. Culture is run by the Palace of Culture “Haxhi Memolla”, with 7 staff.
The reply, which covers 2025 only, came after Artivista's complaint to the Commissioner for the Right to Information. It reports a culture budget of 4.2 million lek in 2025, of which 70% was spent, and 42 cultural activities. The municipality's budget plan for 2026 sets about 9.4 million lek for the culture programme, from a state grant and from its own revenue.
The reply does not cover heritage works, strategy, consultations, activities in the villages or income from culture.
1. Governance and institutions
Culture is the responsibility of the Directorate of Education, Culture, Tourism, Diaspora, Youth and Sport. The only cultural institution is the Palace of Culture “Haxhi Memolla” in Rrogozhinë, with 7 full-time staff according to the reply; the municipality's 2026 budget lists 6 culture employees.
2. Staff and funding
In 2025 the culture budget was 4,200,000 lek, of which 70%, or 2,940,000 lek, was spent. Central institutions also bring theatre, cultural and film performances, and external donors may add support, but the reply does not give a value for these.
For 2026 the culture programme has 4,491,843 lek from the state grant and 4,904,090 lek from the municipality's own revenue. The spending tables list 4,443,544 lek for wages, 743,256 lek for social insurance and 4,192,400 lek for running costs.
3. Cultural programme
The municipality held 42 cultural activities in 2025. People of all ages in the community took part, together with local businesses in the areas where the activities took place.
4. Heritage
The reply does not mention any work on heritage sites.
5. Planning and public participation
The reply does not mention a culture strategy or public consultations on culture.
6. Culture across the municipality
The reply gives no information on activities in Gosë, Kryevidh, Lekaj and Sinaballaj.
Conclusions
- The reply came only after a complaint, and covers only 2025.
- In 2025, 70% of the 4.2 million lek culture budget was spent.
- The municipality held 42 cultural activities in 2025.
- The budget plan for 2026 more than doubles the culture programme, to about 9.4 million lek.
- The population fell by 43% between the two censuses.
Recommendations
Answer requests on time
Replying to requests for information without a complaint would make it easier for residents to follow culture.
Report for several years
Giving budget and activities for each year since 2020 would show how culture has developed.
Name the activities
Listing the 42 activities, with places and participants, would show how they reach the villages.
Plan for culture
With a larger budget in 2026, a short plan for culture discussed with residents would help use it well.
About the data
Population figures come from the INSTAT 2023 Census. Budget, activities, institution and staff are as reported by the Directorate of Education, Culture, Tourism, Diaspora, Youth and Sport in the municipality's reply (2026). Figures for 2026 come from the municipality's draft budget and medium term budget plan (PBA) 2026 - 2028.
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.
