Several important projects have been realized recently by the National Gallery of Macedonia, whose main role is to collect, nourish and present works of art.

The National Gallery this year is offering a program including numerous retrospective exhibitions by Macedonian esteemed artists, it is also going to be part of many projects in the cultural and information centers in Sofia and New York. Moreover, the institution will represent Macedonia at the Venice Biennale.

Visiting the cultural institution on Thursday, Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska praised the National Gallery of Macedonia for its successful functioning.

Referring to the numerous retrospective shows held recently and the established cooperation with other centers, she pointed out the exhibition organized in 2014 in the Czech Republic to mark the 20^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties with the country.

The National Gallery, the Minister added, is preparing to open the Lazar Licenoski Museum next year, right on time to mark the 115^th anniversary of the birth of one of the first Macedonian expressionist painters.

“Moreover, last year we started purchasing artworks as a stimulating measure. Nearly 60 works by 64 artists have been bought. It is planned this year an exhibition to be held in a bid to present to the public what the state has purchased. Some of the works will be awarded to the National Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Arts,” added Kanceska-Milevska.

The director of the National Gallery of Macedonia, Maja Brzanova-Nedelkovska, said this year the institution also offered a comprehensive program in an attempt to implement projects aimed at affirming Macedonia’s contemporary art.

Works of art by authors that have left a mark in the country will be exhibited. Those include retrospective shows by Tomo Sijak and Aleksandar Kondev as well as research projects involving the artists Borko Lazeski, Vangel Naumovski, Spase Kunovski, etc.