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The  Kosova Art Gallery - KAG in (Kosovar: Galeria e Arteve e Kosovës,is an art gallery situated at The University of Prishtina Campus, right behind the National Public Library in Prishtina, Kosova, founded on February 1979. It is the highest institution of visual arts in the country of Kosova. It is the space of various exhibitions of local and international artists. The most successful yearly exhibitions are the International Exhibition of Artistic Photography, Gjon Milli; the Young Artist Award, Artistët e së Nesërmes (Artists of Tomorrow); and the International Exhibit Award, Muslim Mulliqi. The Kosovo Art Gallery has published many catalogues and brochures, among which are the monographies, “Arti Bashkëkohor i Kosovës” (Kosovo Contemporary Art), and “Kosova Feniks”.

Early Usage

 * The Kosova Art Gallery was built approximately in 1935 as a military barrack of the Yugoslavian Army, made of stone bricks.
 * In the years 1955-1981 it operated as a library.
 * In the years 1982-1983 it was adapted into an exhibition hall by the architect Agush Beqiri, for the Revolutionary Museum of the time.
 * In 1995 it was officially adapted into what is now The Kosova Art Gallery.

Foundation
The Kosova Art Gallery was established in 1979 as a cultural institution to present visual arts, and to preserve and collect valuable works of art. It was established as a necessity for the visual presentation of Kosovan culture, as the only art institutions before it were The Art High School in Pejë in 1949, then “The Higher Pedagogical School” in Prishtinë, as well as the founding of the Academy of Arts in 1973, from which more than 1000 artists have graduated. Near 500 of them are active these days in the field of painting, sculpture, graphic and applicative arts.

Kosovan art was unknown to the international public for a very long period of time. Because of the regime of that time, many artists were unable to display their art in the Art Gallery at the time, and so they were always on the lookout for alternatives and even resorted to taking matters in their own hands. Unfortunately, during the Kosovo War, many studios were burned down and many more artworks were destroyed or lost. Up till 1990, Kosovan Artists have presented their art in many prestigious worldwide renowned centers. They were affirmed and evaluated highly because of their unique approach to the arts considering the circumstances in which it was created, making them distinguished and original.

During the 10 after-war years, The Kosovo Art Gallery organized more than 200 collective and individual exhibitions from national as well as international artists. Thousands of artists have exhibited their work, which were visited by hundreds of thousands of art lovers.

Architecture
The  Kosova Art Gallery is a building that is made of specific facade made from stone from the area of Pejë, that made it stand out. The building where the gallery is currently situated was once the seat of the museum of the 1941-1945 war.

Cooperation
As a result of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports of Prishtina, which is charge of the Gallery, and international institutions, the Gallery has hosted numerous guests from Albania and other neighboring states.

Artistët e së nesërmes (The Artists of Tomorrow)
Originally held in 1991 in Czechoslovakia, this competition started attracting attention from many other countries in Europe. 2002 was the year it started in Kosova, and now it is being held in more than ten countries. This is the only competition of its kind being held, as it gives the winners the chance to create contacts and relations with people who might be of great help to their careers. Anyone under the age of 35 can apply. The winners are chosen by a panel of experts, and all the finalists get to exhibit their artwork at the KAG. The prize is a 6-week stay in an international studio in New York as well as a curatorial program, and has been so for eleven years. The winners until now have been: Majlinda Hoxha, Astrit Ismaili, Loreta Ukshini, Miranda Thaçi, Bekim Gllogu, Fatmir Mustafa-Carlo, Fitore Isufi-Koja, Kader Muzaqi, Jakup Ferri and Tahar Alemdar.

Gjon Milli
It was first held in 2001, as an initiative of the Kosova Art Gallery and the US Office of the time. Its primary idea was to organize a traditional exhibition as a photography competition which would gather new photographers. Anyone is eligible to enter, with the prize being 1000 Euros. This initiative resulted with the yearly exhibition which is being held since, and has reached the reputation as the most important photography competition not only in Kosovo, but throughout the whole Albanian nation. The director of KAG, Erzen Shkololli, has recently stated that from this year the exhibition will be turned into a biennial event, taking turns each year with another competition, Muslim Mulliqi.

Muslim Mulliqi
Muslim Mulliqi is the greatest exhibition of The Kosovo Art Gallery, and at the same time the greatest prize given for visual art. The aim KAG has given to itself in the latest editions of the Muslim Mulliqi Prize is the provision of the current Albanian visual art. The competition has expanded, including other exhibition spaces such as at the Gallery of the Ministry of Culture and the Amphitheater of the Architecture University. Each year there are three members different expertise in the jury who decide the winner. 3000 euros are given to the artist chosen as the best fitting the criteria assigned.