The International Competition for young photographers “Sotir” is almost a traditional event organized in the last couple of years in Korça. Its main goal is to strengthen a new tradition of development and promotion of photography and its values in Albania. This cultural project brings together young Albanian and foreign photographers to promote photography as a form of expression and dynamics of contemporary art in the development of society.
This activity represents the first International Photography Competition and Award for young people in Albania since 2008. It is named after Kristaq Sotiri (1883 – 1970), a well-known photographer from Korça who become a professional photographer in the U.S. His creativity portrayed Albanian citizenship, its cultural life and its protagonists in the American-style of that time. He is one of the first professionals in the field of photography who built the first steps to a proper tradition of photography in Albania amongst other great names of Albanian photography.
The first edition of the competition for young photographers “Sotir” opened in Korça on May 15, 2008. In the wake of promoting our cultural heritage values and tradition the Municipality of Korça hosted this event organized by young people for young people. The International Award for new photographers “Sotir” revives the public interest in the activity and also promotes the values of our city.
We want this event to become a tradition that continues improving in the following years with the purpose of:
– Promoting this art as a form of expression and dynamics of photography, contemporary art and society in development.
– Promoting the inherited artistic and cultural values through dimensioning into contemporary forms.
– Supporting young artists.
– Showing the real conspicuous cultural potential of cities other than the capital by organizing important cultural international events.
The International Competition of Photography SOTIR
