[1][2] The Artistic Lyceum was established in 1946 and was given the name of World War II People's Hero Jordan Misja, who had been a painter.

[3] In 1973, following a speech from March by Enver Hoxha, then Albania's communist dictator, Agron Dushku, a delegate of the Central Committee of the Party of Labor of Albania, reported to the Central Committee that the Lyceum had a low level of communist behavior and that there was indifference to the Party's big-character posters placed at the school.

[9] The school gives recognition to several renowned artists who were teachers at the school, including sculptors Odhise Paskali, Janaq Paço, Kristina Hoshi, (first Albanian woman sculptor), and Andrea Mano; painters Foto Stamo, Abdurrahim Buza, Kel Kodheli, Sadik Kaceli, Nexhmedin Zajmi, and Guri Madhi; dramatic arts teachers Mihal Popi, Zina Andri (Pano), Naim Frashëri, and Kadri Roshi; composers Çesk Zadeja, Tish Daija, Pjetër Gaci, Avni Mula, Kozma Laro, Feim Ibrahimi, and Simon Gjoni; orchestra directors Mustafa Krantja and Rifat Teqja; violinist Ludovik Naraçi; vocalists Marie Kraja, Nina Mula, Gjoni Thanasi, Jorgjie Truja, and Shpresa Nishani; musicologist Ramadan Sokoli; and choreographers Perkunji (Russian), Panajot Kanaçi, Xhemil Simitçiu, Ganimete Vendresha, Zoica Haxho, Agron Aliaj, and Petrit Vorpsi.

[2] The most well known alumni include painters and sculptors Vilson Kilica, Kristaq Rama, Shaban Hadëri, Hektor Dule, Thoma Thomai, Mumtaz Dhrami, Ksenofon Dilo, Sali Shijaku, Fuat Dushku, Danish Jukniu, Thanas Papa, and Naxhi Bakalli; theatre and movie actors Kristaq Dhamo, Tinka Kurti, Ismail Hoxha, Hysen Hakani, Tomi Mato, Kujtim Spahivogli, and Mihallaq Luarasi; composer Nikolla Zoraqi; orchestra directors Milto Vako, Suzana Turku, and Ermir Krantja; tenors Gaqo Çako and Kristaq Paspali; pianist Margarita Kristidhi; violinists Rajmonda Koço, Bujar Sykja, Gjovalin Lazri, Nasho Paspali, and Rudina Banja; musicologists Hamide Stringa and Zana Shuteriqi; and ballerinas Ajshe Vaso, Nermin Strazimiri, and Keti Trajani.

Other notable alumni are singer Vaçe Zela (11-time winner of the light music festival of Festivali i Këngës),[10] showman Ardit Gjebrea, violinist Tedi Papavrami, and soprano Inva Mula.