Rruga Kont Urani No 3, Tiranë, Albania

+355 4 224 555

This is a newly formed institution comprising the former Institute of Folk Culture and the Centre of Arts Studies. It operated formerly under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences, and is now under the Ministry of Education. Founded in 1979 from the amalgamation of several former institutions, the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Arts Studies is devoted to the study of Albanian music and folklore, ethnomusicology and ethnography. The Audio-visual Centre of the Institute holds a vast collection of folk materials, including the Music Archive which conserves over 35,000 songs, melodies, dances, and ceremonials. Publications include study books, the journals 'Popular Culture' and 'Albanian Ethnography'. The Institute organises seminars, symposia and workshops and provides technical and professional assistance with the organisation of the National Folkloric Festival held every five years. The Arts Studies sector was founded in 1984. It is not a teaching body, but undertakes research into fine arts, music, choreography, theatre, cinema and institutions of art and culture. In the music area it conducts research into composed music in Albania and its rapport with Albanian folk music, as well as post-war composition and recent developments in the 90s. The Institute publishes books and articles related to its researches. There are links with various institutions of ethnomusicology and musicology in Europe and North America to develop various specialised projects such as the digitalisation of musical archives and publications.

March 2021