Preserving
Albania's
Living Heritage

Besa Foundation is a non-profit cultural organization committed to heritage preservation, cultural development and public engagement.

Discover The First Project

The Foundation

The Besa Foundation is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and developing cultural heritage through the creation of sustainable cultural institutions and projects. Its first and founding initiative is the Besa Museum, conceived as a cornerstone project for safeguarding memory, identity, and values. The Foundation’s mission is to mobilize and manage financial resources for the conceptual development of cultural content, the preparation and implementation of architectural projects, and the transformation of spaces into living cultural institutions.

The Foundation actively promotes its projects nationally and internationally and supports the organization and development of artistic, cultural, and heritage initiatives in Albania and beyond.

Building on the Besa Museum as its first project, the Besa Foundation will continue to develop future projects that contribute to cultural heritage, collective memory, and intercultural dialogue for the future generations.

What is Besa ?

Besa is a sacred Albanian principle, a promise given with absolute responsibility. Often translated as "faith" or "word of honor," it represents an unbreakable vow to protect, to stand by one's word, and to act with integrity, even at great personal cost. Rooted in centuries of tradition, Besa is the foundation of trust, hospitality, and moral duty in Albanian culture. It is not a rule imposed by law, but a value lived through action.

Featured Project

Besa Museum

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Leadership & Governance

Andrew Robinson - Chairman

Prof. Dr. Iris Pojani - Vice Chair

Prof. Dr. Artan Hoxha - Board Member

Prof. Dr. Shaban Sinani - Board Member

Av. Juljan Puna - Board Member

Albi Greva - Executive Director

Rovena Duçkallari - Secretary General

Nereida Fidhi - Admin & Finance Manager

News & Recognition

Stories, milestones, announcements, and international recognition reflect the ongoing impact of the BESA Foundation.

Fondacioni Besa

Agreement Signed for the Development of the "Besa Museum" Project in Tirana

During the Diaspora Summit, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Besa Foundation signed a cooperation agreement for the development and revitalization of the Besa Museum project in Tirana. The concept of the Besa Museum draws inspiration from the unparalleled stories of humanity and solidarity of Albanian families who, under great risk during World War II, sheltered and cared for the lives of Jewish people in Albania during that period.

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Fondacioni Besa

Besa Foundation Highlights the Albanian Value of Besa on International Museum Day at the Academy of Sciences of Albania

On International Museum Day, the Besa Foundation, in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of Albania, organized a special event dedicated to cultural heritage, identity, and the values of the Albanian people. With the participation of academics, researchers, and well-known figures from history and culture, the event placed the concept of Besa at the center—as part of intangible cultural heritage—the presentation of the Besa Museum project, and historical facts and discussions by contemporary scholars on Albanian values, especially during World War II in saving the lives of hundreds of Jewish people. The event also marked the cornerstone of the Besa Foundation's first project, the Besa Museum.

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Oppenheim

The Besa Museum Reaches the World Architecture Festival Finals in Singapore

The Besa Museum, a cultural project of the Besa Foundation, has been selected as a finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2024 in Singapore, competing in the Future/Civic category for Culture.

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