The Minister of Culture, Elva Margariti, has presented on social networks the wonderful work that is done in the craft workshop of Venetian masks in Shkodër.

The minister took the opportunity of this carnival period to remind once again the deadline for applications for the Artisan Fund, which closes in a few days.

It was Shkodër Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage, which brought to attention earlier, one of the most important workshops for the artisanal production of Venetian masks. The workshop, which is located in Shkodër, is inheriting this knowledge with a variety of masks of different styles, variety, decorations, character themes such as the famous Harlequin, Colombina, the Plague Doctor, and many other well-known models of the comedy of art.

Carnivals are enjoyed with beautiful costumes, but also with masks that can be of classical and historical themes, but also modern, original creations, marking an important aspect of intangible cultural heritage.

They are a tribute to the origins of carnivals that date back a thousand years. The mask helps hide a person’s identity, making him/her mysterious.

In past centuries, the mask allowed people of different social classes to mingle with each other.

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