Vila 31 x Art Explora, a former residence that has gone through a dark period and has been transformed into a vibrant and innovative artistic and cultural center, will host its first residents from France, Tunisia, Lebanon, Malta, Italy, and many other countries. This space will offer an open cultural program for everyone, including performances, discussions, readings, and film screenings.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama at the inauguration of “Vila 31 x Art Explora“: Good afternoon!

Allow me to say at the beginning that I am not very good at French at this moment, but anyway, I want to continue in French because we have witnessed, thanks to the EU Ambassador and the Minister of Culture, speeches in other languages, which, to my shame, were in English at an event that should have been exclusively in French. This is because I don’t believe the imagination of the artists here could ever reach a point where they envision the English opening something like this in Albania or anywhere else, in any other place that is not their colony.

On the other hand, I must respect and honor Frédéric, who came today with many others, not only in the French language but by dedicating a long speech. A long speech because, thanks to the imagination of my ambassador Dritan Tola, the idea to honor Frédéric with the “Grand Star of Public Recognition” medal in sign of gratitude was conceived.

Around the age of 50, as you yourself said, you confirmed once again this other great inclination of yours that had always been within you: that of being a protector and a great mercenary of culture. After financing many artistic and cultural activities for the poor public, after helping the Louvre and serving on many committees and councils of the biggest museums in France and the world, you led the council of the School of Fine Arts in Paris, managed the School of Decorative Arts, and dedicated more and more of your energy and money, your finances, to supporting culture. You purchased magazines such as “Beaux Arts Magazine” and “Le quotidien de l’art” and led the Pass’Couture working group for the youth of France.

Finally, you arrived at this last beautiful adventure following the distinguished tradition of the patrons and protectors of art in France, that is, Art Explora, with the noble goal of democratizing art and making it accessible to everyone.

Nothing was guaranteed in advance, and with the help of men and women like Bruno or Blanche, I don’t know all the others, and I apologize, but there are certainly others, I have no doubt about that. They also spoke to me about a guardian angel, Marie-Laure, your mother, and you succeeded with your bet. Then, on a beautiful day in September 2021, under the encouragement of your Franco-Albanian friend Adea Mejdani, I believe she is Albanian, ChatGPT says she’s Franco-Albanian and I’m not sure why, and with the support of our tireless and oxidizable ambassador in Paris, Dritan Tola, you made a beautiful journey to Albania and fell in love, that’s what they say.

First of all, our friend Benjamin Adat, the French Minister for Europe, who honors us with his presence today on behalf of France, and through his presence marks the friendship between our two countries and peoples. I must add that he has the ability to surprise me, as despite the governmental crises in France, he continues to be here, and the more they say that France is finished, he tells me, “No, I am here.”

The diversity of the Albanian or foreign people invited here is a testament to the appreciation they have for you, to how much we value you and the values you defend. I often mention that values are measured by how each person finds their place in the world, as well as by the actions they have taken.

In the famous novel by Cervantes, Don Quixote declares that everyone is the son of their own work. I must add that when I mentioned earlier Montmartre and your artistic residencies, the artists in this famous place of Parisian creativity, I cannot help but quote a famous sentence by Rodolf Salis: “God created the world, Napoleon founded the Legion of Honor, Frederic Jousset founded Art Explora.”

This recognition from our republic gives me the opportunity to thank you for your activities and your work in Albania and for Albania, and I would like you to come here next to me so I can present you with the Prime Minister’s medal.

Thank you!