FLASH NEWS
"The people want bread", Dash Shehi: When Aleksandër Lalo retired, he received 100 lek per hour of music
2026-05-11 23:35:59 / POLITIKË
Art and culture in Albania suffer from a lack of financial support, both from the state and from society. This was stated in Off the Record with Andrea Dangli on A2 CNN, Dashamir Shehi, according to whom public funds for art today are lower even compared to the communist period, when culture was used as propaganda.
"There are two very small sources for art in Albania. First, the state budget source that is needed is smaller than it was in Enver's time, because in Enver's time there was propaganda. Every small district had a cultural center. A state source that is missing. Another source is also missing. The social source. It is not that we are a people who love art, we who spend. At the door of the theater there are 200 people who are 5,000 lek for beer, 5,000 lek for a theater ticket. I have also been to the theater constantly, and so has his master. I may be one of those few public people who go there. We do not have much culture. If you had needed cinemas, they would have been built as a business, I think, the cultural platform is beyond. We lack both sources. Private money as an interest in art and public money as support for art. Both. That is why Albanian art is poor in a way. Being poor, the artist understands that not everyone is made of steel. "You? What are copper wires and stuff like that," Shehi said on Off the Record with Andrea Dangli on A2 CNN.
Speaking about the economic situation of artists, Shehi mentioned the case of the late composer Aleksandër Lalo, who according to him received a minimal pension after a lifetime in music.
"Corruption of millions is happening. Billions are disappearing. Aleksandër Lalo, who was my friend, told a couple of jokes about art. The first time I asked him, are you doing something Sandër? He said no, Dash. Why aren't you doing it? Look, he said; music is like eating fruit after bread. These people want bread. He retired. I asked him how much did your pension come out to? He said it cost me 167,000 old lekë, of course he said I made 167 hours of music. I get 1,000 lekë for an hour of music. To make a composer who has made music laugh. That was a joke that speaks volumes, that's why public money for art needs to be increased and another thing is that simply money is not enough, the cultural perimeter needs to be expanded. Schools need to start educating, curricula so that children love art. To be interested in art because these are the artists' clients of tomorrow. These are the consumers who will pay for the cinema ticket, the theater ticket, the concert ticket concert".
Happening now...
ideas
Does Albania have a foreign policy?
Nga Ditmir Bushati
Republic of Thieves!
Nga Gjergji Nika
Albania, this ship stuck in the business of theft!
Nga Edison Ypi
top
Alfa recipes
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128