The first New Media Art Museum in Romania opened on Thursday June 3rd, in the city of Brașov. Its unique location proves that heritage sites can be reactivated and integrated in the life of the community through creativity.
Written by: European Heritage Youth Ambassador Elena Cautiș.
On Thursday June 3rd the first New Media Art Museum in Romania opened in the city of Brașov. Featuring a temporary exhibition which will be available to the public until the 30th of September, the works of 16 different artists are displayed in a unique location: an air-raid shelter dating from the Second World War. This is designed to be a pilot exhibition, but if it proves to be attractive then the galleries will become home to a permanent exhibition, the organizers say.
Insdide the museum. Images: Elena Cautiș
The Museum is set in the future “Behind the Walls” Cultural Park
The galleries were dug in the Second World War as an air-raid shelter beneath the Warthe Hill, outside of the medieval fortified walls of the old town. Afterwards they remained abandoned and closed to the local community until recently, when the local association Amural decided to integrate them into a larger cultural project intended to revitalize the city’s cultural life. The intention is to transform the entire area outside the fortified walls into a Cultural Park, with the galleries being one of the seven interest-points to be transformed into creative spaces.
Behind the Walls Alley. Images: Elena Cautiș
The importance of such a space
Brasov Underground Museum is a unique initiative in Romania, but its importance stands especially in the fact that it’s situated in a fast-developing town, which has proven to be an attractive location especially for young people in the past years. Therefore the opening of such a museum will hopefully allow for the enrichment of the city’s culture with innovative approaches, appealing more to young people. Moreover, the project proves that old and new can stand together and that these two facets of culture actually complement each-other. Cultural heritage becomes the inspiration for creative processes and therefore contributes to the well-being of the community. You can visit the current exhibition until the 30th of September so if you’re in the area, don’t miss it! It’s a unique experience!
Sources: Facebook Parc Cultural După Ziduri, Facebook BUM – Brașov Underground Museum and Stirile Transilvaniei.
About the author
Elena Cautiș studied History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Bucharest and at the University of Perugia. Her main research focus is cultural heritage as a means for sustainable development. Currently, she is a volunteer at Mihai Eminescu Trust, helping with the research of inclusive valorization strategies for cultural heritage. She is also one of the European Heritage Youth Ambassadors.