Albania is the only country in the Balkans without a national ethnographic museum.

Efforts from 15 years ago to create a designated sector, within the National Museum of History, where a collection of our traditional costumes and cultural artifacts, unfortunately, failed.

There are currently 9 local ethnographic museums in Albania, but a national one is still missing.

Ethnographer Aferdita Onuzi told Euronews Albania that there are many reasons why she has been trying to open a museum.

“First of all, ethnographic museums serve as a personal ID for a nation and these museums exist even in the most underdeveloped or poor nations in the world, because they offer the chance to recognize our values as a nation,” – said Onuzi.

In 2008, the Ministry of Culture decided to allocate 1.200 square meters at the National Museum of History, which were going to be used to showcase rare objects and artifacts of our ethnographic heritage.

In addition, UNDP allocated a fund of $400 thousand dollars to restore many of the artifacts and objects, while also upgrading the space that would be dedicated to the pavilion.

Around 1.430 costumes and artifacts were sent there, the majority of whom were unique pieces found in the Albanian territory.

Seeing that such a space was never opened, the ministry of culture came out with a statement, saying that the reason for the suspension of all work was that with the hydro-isolation of the building’s terrace – an issue that wasn’t foreseen in the original restoration project.

Meanwhile, specialists were given another reason altogether.

“One day, after we were thinking about a children’s corner which is usually present in such museums, we receive a message that the museum would be reconceptualized,” – said Onuzi.