Key points
Location: Vila 31, former Hoxha family home in Tirana, Albania
Transformation: From dictatorial residence to artistic residence
Supported by: Art Explora, in partnership with the City of Tirana and the Albanian Ministry of Culture
Objectives: Reinterpret the memory of the place through contemporary art, welcome international artists, create a link with the public
Target audience: Artists in residence, residents of Tirana, international visitors, researchers
Themes: Memory, power, creation, reconciliation with the past
Tirana, Albania – In the heart of a neighborhood once reserved for the communist regime's nomenklatura, Vila 31 is reborn in an unexpected form. Formerly the family residence of dictator Enver Hoxha, this discreet and long-inaccessible building is now transformed into an international arts center , thanks to the support of the Art Explora Foundation , in partnership with the city of Tirana and the Albanian Ministry of Culture .
A house steeped in history, between silence and resonances
Built in the 1970s, Vila 31 belonged to the ruling elite. Located in a neighborhood closed to the rest of the population, it embodied the functional architecture of power: sober, secure, almost anonymous. After the fall of the regime, the house remained uninhabited, as if frozen in a memory that no one knew how to reactivate.
But today, it is open to the public and to contemporary creation. The project does not seek to transform the house into a museum, but to make it a place of cultural life, artistic production and reflection on memory .
An artistic residency on the borders of past and present
Since 2024, Vila 31 has hosted artists in residence from Albania, Europe, and beyond. The stays, lasting from a few weeks to several months, give rise to in situ works, performances, temporary exhibitions, but also to open meetings with the inhabitants of Tirana .
Among the first exhibitions presented:
"Interiors of Power" , an immersive installation mixing objects recovered from the communist era and contemporary videos on private life and social control;
“Tales of Silence” , a series of sound portraits collected from former neighbors in the neighborhood, broadcast in the corridors of the house;
A participatory performance around the reappropriation of domestic gestures, transformed into artistic rituals, entitled "Living differently" .
An open, committed and European program
The idea of making Vila 31 an international artist residency was born from the initiative of the Art Explora Foundation , founded by French entrepreneur and patron Frédéric Jousset. The project is part of Art Explora's desire to democratize access to art and promote intercultural exchanges in Europe.
In addition to residencies, Vila 31 regularly organizes screenings, readings, workshops, and roundtable discussions. One of the highlights of the year is the Festival of Living Memories , which brings together artists, historians, and citizens to explore the contemporary uses of disused places of power.
The venue thus becomes a space for interdisciplinary creation , combining visual arts, performing arts, literature and digital technology. The diversity of practices reflects Art Explora's desire to support inclusive artistic forms geared towards intercultural dialogue.
"The past is not a frozen setting here; it is a living material that we question, transform, and sometimes even confront," emphasizes a curator associated with the project.
An example of heritage reinvention
The reconversion of Vila 31 is part of a broader dynamic of reinventing political heritage in Albania and the Balkans. In a country where the memory of communism remains sensitive, this project proposes an original path: neither erasure nor sanctification, but an active and critical use of the past through art.
By transforming a former residence of power into an open cultural factory , Art Explora and its Albanian partners offer a strong model: that of a difficult heritage transformed into a lever for expression, exchange and transmission.
FAQ
What is Vila 31?
Vila 31 is a house built during the communist regime for the family of dictator Enver Hoxha. It is located in a former closed government district of Tirana.
Why was this place chosen?
Because it symbolizes the isolation of totalitarian power. Transforming it into a place of artistic creation is a way of reactivating its memory and giving it an open, public-facing function.
Who is organizing this project?
The French Art Explora Foundation, in collaboration with the Municipality of Tirana and the Albanian Ministry of Culture, supports access to culture and artist residencies internationally.
What types of artists are welcomed?
Visual artists, writers, performers, photographers, videographers, and researchers come from Albania, Europe, and beyond.
Can we visit Vila 31?
Yes. Public events, exhibitions, performances, and workshops are regularly organized. Admission is free during open days.
What is the philosophy of the place?
Rather than freezing the place in the past, the idea is to bring it to life. Art serves here to explore history, question the present, and imagine the future.
Nicolas Sarazin