Ethnological Museum – semi-functional in its ninth year

Since 2017, when it was completely stripped bare, the works were not completed until 2021. The “inauguration” of the restoration of the “Family House” in the “Eminxhik” complex with four buildings was presented with pomp. But since then, one of the two buildings where the Ethnological Museum is located has not been functional. One of the most visited museums in the country is operating at half capacity, the return of the exhibition there does not seem close. “The idea of ​​​​the exhibition will take time,” said ethnologist Bekim Xhemili, curator at the Ethnological Museum

The unique architectural complex and one of the most visited in the country has entered its ninth year of being semi-functional. What is known as the “Family House” in the Ethnological Museum of Kosovo offers nothing but dry walls. In terms of weight, it is the main building. It clearly revealed how a citizen family lived in Pristina in recent centuries. The Ministry of Culture promotes on social networks almost every third day that it has restored several monuments – buildings completely peripheral in relation to the Ethnological Museum in terms of weight and number of visitors – but the most visited complex in the country remains half-finished. 

In August 2017, the most representative building of the “Eminxhiku” complex was closed in the name of restoration. It was completely stripped to strengthen its statics and renew it in every aspect. But it remained a ruin until 2021. At the end of that year, through a new tender, the issue was resolved and the restoration saga came to an end. But since then, only the building remains to be seen from the outside because it has not fulfilled the function it had since 2006, when the Ethnological Museum was inaugurated. It has been often used for electoral campaigns and to present it as a great work in cultural heritage, but the point of return has never been set in its function. 

The Ministry of Culture, which in recent years has mainly dealt with tenders, has an active contract entitled "Services for the development of processes and technical products for the revitalization and adaptation, management, curation of exhibitions and (re)functionalization of (existing) museums, located in architectural cultural heritage assets". As a special lot, this contract for the Ethnological Museum financially weighs 90 thousand euros. 

The co-manager of this contract is ethnologist Bekim Xhemili, curator at the Ethnological Museum. 

"The idea of ​​the exhibition will take time," he said. He explained that the company that took over the concept has made presentations and the staff has given recommendations. 

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"This is taking time. It is difficult to do until next year. They only have the conceptual project and then they still need a tender for implementation," said Xhemili. According to him, the staff would be satisfied if the re-functionalization of the Museum were completed by the second half of next year. 

"We need new lighting, new inventory, and completely new things. We have arranged the exhibits, they are treated, and a cleaning must be done before the exhibition," he said. As part of this process, it is also planned to design the restoration of what is called the "Guest House", the entire courtyard, as well as the barn and the stone building. 

The Ethnological Museum opened its doors on September 11, 2006. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of its function as one of the most visited cultural heritage assets in the country. But there have been constant delays every time work has been done there. Conservators and restorers did not return to the two-story 19th-century building that was stripped bare in the fall of 2017 until 2021. The floor had been completely removed, while the building was held up only by wooden pillars. The bricks had also been removed from the interior walls. The roof tiles had been removed and the water from atmospheric precipitation was prevented from penetrating through the insulation with sheet metal. While the building was left only on the pillars from the inside, the plaster had been removed from the exterior walls down to the beams. 

The house stood for four years with scaffolding and green nets. Despite this, there were about 10 thousand visitors every year. Staff data shows that over 80 percent of visitors are foreigners and 20 percent local. They are dominated by those from European countries such as Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. Then come the Scandinavian countries, as well as a considerable number from the United States of America to Asian countries. 

"In the last four years, we have had a significant number of expatriates visiting the Museum, whether with their families, but also with their friends and associates. Kosovo citizens also visit the museum, especially in the summer season," explained ethnologist Xhemili earlier this year. 
It remains a top attraction and destination in Pristina. It has even made its mark internationally. In 2020, the prestigious British newspaper “The Guardian” wrote an article about the best city museums in Europe. Among the 12 museums was the Ethnological Museum in the capital of Kosovo. Activist Elizabeth Gowing, one of the most meritorious in promoting the Museum, described it as “a charming museum with two preserved houses from the Ottoman period”.

On the other hand, in May 2017, emergency work was interrupted on the building known as the barn in this complex. Another problem is the one with the "Stacion" contemporary art center. 

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The Ministry of Culture still has no solution regarding the use of the Stone House, which is the fourth building of this complex. The MCYS had accused the leaders of the "Station" as usurpers, since 2010 they have not had permission to use the building where what is now called the Museum of American Art in Kosovo is located. The MCYS had also given a deadline for the release of the building, but it was not respected. 

According to the plans of the Museum of Kosovo, after the restoration and conservation of the family home is completed, the 18th century building will also undergo this process. The work on restoring both buildings at the same time was not started with the justification that one part of the complex should be open to visitors.