International Projects:

The 2007 Exhibition, “Present” with art professors from Academy of Art, Tirana and Utica College, New York. Funding was allocated by FAVA for this GKA exhibit and for further collaboration at the Barrett Fine Art Gallery, Utica College:  “Common Threads of Tradition in the PRESENT.”

The 2007 GKA Exhibition, “Vision and Expression” in Beijing, China. FAVA sponsored the travel expenses for 4 GKA staff members to assemble this important exhibition of the National Gallery permanent collection..

The 2007 Venice Biennale Exhibition. FAVA recommended American curator, Bonnie Clearwater from MOCA museum in Miami, Florida, AND assisted in her expenses and paid for the initial rent of the Albanian Pavilion. Albanian video artists from this exhibition have become internationally recognized and one artwork is being purchased by a U.S. museum. The significance of this highly regarded international exposure for talented Albanian artists cannot be overstated.

The 2008-09 Alfred Toepfer Fellowship, Hamburg Germany Project. This project supported by FAVA was largely funded by the Toepfer Foundation. A young curator won the German fellowship to develop at the GKA a fascinating project entitled “Re-Paintings. An Exhibition on Coats.” The art installation examined the GKA renovations in relation to a state of on-going transformation in Albania. A forthcoming publication with the Albanian artists who participated will be the completion of the project

The 2009 Student New Orleans Project.  Four talented art students from the Academy of Art, Tirana will exhibit their art works at Loyola University and attend classes for one week in March. A continued partnership between these 2 universities is being proposed.

The Galeria E Vogel. Fava has supported Galeria E Vogel since 2007, realizing that private galleries are an important element to any dynamic art community, and that they have difficulty in becoming self sustaining because of lack of financial support. This particular gallery has been a prominent addition to the local community where it resides, offering exhibitions with new artists in various medium such as sculpture, photography, ceramics and video art.

The Zeta Gallery. The 2009 Exhibition of Albanian Artist, Lumturi Blloshmi received FAVA support. This deaf artist has devoted her life to experimental and humanizing work. Considering the limited possibilities for artist support in Albania, FAVA was pleased to collaborate with this unique and respected female artist who expresses important insights into Albanian life. The new Zeta Gallery is important to young, emerging artists and has been impressive with its outreach to young audiences attending its exhibitions.

The 2009 Photo Album of Albanian Emigration to U.S.  The Albanian photographer Roland Tasho will visually convey images of successful Albanians who have evolved in the U.S. during the last 130 years, bringing their values and culture to their adopted country. An exhibition of these photographs is also being planned for Tirana and the U.S.

The 2009 Tirana International Biennale of Contemporary Art.  Support is given specifically for catalog design, including translation, and for commissioned texts. The Biennale offers the important possibility for international dialogue on the environment, political platforms and power structures through artistic channels.

Future Projects:

The 2009 Museum Management Workshop. The GKA, with the assistance of FAVA plans to organize a mini conference for museums from various Albanian cities. The Fund for Art and Culture in Eastern and Central Europe will be the presenter.

The 2010 Marubi Photographs to Finland Exhibition. The Museum of Cultures in Helsinki is planning to exhibit the famous Marubi photos from Albania together with their Balkan collection.

The 2010 Art Residency Program. With a curated exhibition of young artists at Zeta Gallery, FAVA is considering the development of an annual art competition with an award presented to an individual for an international art residency of several months.

The Green Building Project for GKA.  Continued renovations are being considered after a structural study was completed of the GKA. The internationally recognized Greek architect, Nikos Fintikakis, has been in discussion with FAVA and the Albanian architect Enver Faja to consider future completion of an environmentally sustainable building for the National Gallery in order to preserve both the valued permanent collection of art and the true design of the building’s Bauhaus architecture.