Permet, 25 January 2014

In the frame of the VAEcoM project “TheVjosa/Aoos River Ecomuseum; promotion and protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the Vjosa/Aoos river basin”, as part of IPA Cross – Border Programme “Greece – Albania 2007-2013” financed by European Funds and National funds of Albania and Greece, the  Institute of Nature Conservation in Albania (INCA)  in close collaboration with the Municipality of Përmet and the Directory of Forest services in Përmet organized on  25 January 2014 the inauguration ceremony for the Vjosa/Aoos River Ecomuseum of, at the premises of Multifunctional Centre in Përmet City.

The starting point of this Ecomuseum together with the needed infrastructure is now officially open at the premises of the Multifunctional Centre in Përmet City. This ceremony was participated and welcomed by the representatives of the local governments, active local operators and NGOs in the project area. A special regards and support for the first ecomuseum in Albania is given by the Director of the National Agency of Tourism in Albania Mrs. Julinda Dhame.

What means the concept of an Eco-museum?

The term ‘ecomuseum’ was introduced for the first time into French museology in 1971 by Hughes de Varine.  Ecomuseums set out to showcase the cultural heritage and natural landscape of a given place. Around the world, they have helped save, conserve and interpret cultural identity, to maintain and support traditional professions, to document and pass on historical memory, to revive local events and to draw attention to and protect the natural environment. A core characteristic of all ecomuseums is that they address local communities directly and are managed by them. This means that an ecomuseum’s success depends on the degree to which the local population is involved in its design, choice of focus and implementation.

It is a mirror in which the local population sees itself to reveal its image, where it seeks and finds an explanation for the territory to which it belongs, culture and population that preceded through the generations progress. This is an overview that the local population establishes and keeps for its visitors in order to convey to them as more understandable and attractive the information for the local industry, the traditional habits  and identity of the country to which it belongs and get in back after the respectful admiration and appreciation of visitors. It is an expression of man and nature. It puts man in his natural environment and describes the nature with its cruelty, but at one time adapt it with the image of the traditional aspects.