EEA and Norway Grants
Working together for a green,
competitive and inclusive Europe
The House of Arts in Sibiu has been restored and transformed into a trendy cultural hub
With a documented history dating back to 1370, the House of Arts in Sibiu has witnessed many of the city’s significant moments, managing to make its mark on the local urban development since the 16th century.
Even so, however, despite its cultural and historical value, the building located at 21st Small Market (Piața Mica) was in an advanced state of decay, which prevented it from being used to its true potential.
The structure of the building was in need of repair and the lack of adequate interventions jeopardized the preservation of this historic monument. Moreover, the lack of valorization of the house contributed to the loss of an important and central cultural space for the local community.
This is the context in which the need to revitalize and transform the House of Arts arose, in order to ensure the preservation and promotion of the traditional heritage, in the cultural spirit of Sibiu, recognized as a leading cultural center in Europe.
The opportunity arose three years ago, in January 2021, through the official launch of the project Restoration and Revitalization of the Historical Monument Houe of Arts - Casa Artelor - Regional Activities and Resources Centre (C.A.R.R.), funded under the RO-CULTURA Programme, managed by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit.
The project marked a new beginning for the important cultural building in Sibiu, and with the support and sustained efforts of the team involved, the House of Arts came to life, becoming a vital pole for the identity of Sibiu County, and today the monument attracts visitors from all over the region and beyond.
The project also aimed to rediscover traditional Romanian crafts
The project was not just about restoring the complex, but went much deeper by supporting the craftsmen and the community and by certifying the professional skills of the craftsmen in beams, adobe, stone and hand-made carpentry.
The certifications provide professional development opportunities and recognize the invaluable value of traditional crafts. The ASTRA Museum in Sibiu is the first museum in Romania and among the few in Europe to have obtained the necessary accreditation to certify the skills of folk craftsmen.
"We wanted to ensure a sustainable future for Romanian craftsmanship and, through the certifications offered at the end of the courses held at the House of Arts, to place craftsmen on the labor market. Here we are at the end of one road and the beginning of another. The ASTRA Museum becomes practically the first museum in Romania accredited by Romanian state institutions to certify the skills of folk craftsmen, to train future generations and ensure a future for what proudly represents us in Europe and the world. In addition, the project educates the local community and teaches them how to take care of their historic houses and buildings, as Sibiu has many such buildings", said Ciprian Stefan, Director of Astra Museum Sibiu and President of the National Network of Museums in Romania.
The Astra Museum in Sibiu has already carried out 3 projects funded by EEA Grants, for almost 10 million euro, coordinated by Mr. Ciprian Ștefan, Director of the ASTRA National Museum Complex in Sibiu.
A key aspect of the revitalization of the Arts House has been the creation of specially designed spaces to host creative workshops where locals and visitors have the opportunity to learn and practice various crafts and restoration processes under the guidance of experienced craftsmen. These workshops provide a well-rounded and educational experience that revitalizes craft traditions and engages the community.
"I carried on the tradition of my grandfather and uncle who were woodworkers. I have always been drawn to this art and have practiced it since I was young. The certification I obtained at the House of Arts in Sibiu has brought me several jobs restoring historical monuments. That would be the direct benefit. In addition, I qualified four more people in my team with the help of this project," said Rotar Florin, certified craftsman.
Rotar Florin, certified craftsman, project beneficiary
Popular gallery, training courses and VR experiences
Following its significant transformation, from this year the House of Arts will host exhibitions and events aimed at reconnecting visitors, locals and tourists with the history of Sibiu, as well as to valorize the beauty of traditional crafts, threatened by oblivion.
The creative hub also offers educational activities, exhibitions, training rooms and spaces for interactive initiatives. In addition, both students and teachers from Sibiu benefit from certifying their skills and exploring the exciting world of new, stimulating learning experiences.
Every visitor who steps in the House of Arts can enjoy a creative experience and journey, full of craftsmanship and cultural spirit. Through the active involvement of the local community, the project run by Astra Museum Sibiu has become a successful model of sustainable valorization of cultural heritage.
Another thread in the story of this project has come to support the local economy by creating a platform dedicated to the commercialization of objects made by craftsmen from all over the country. Lovers of unique pieces can choose from a wide range of products.
The cultural café has become a meeting and socializing place
The cultural café has complemented the welcoming atmosphere of the House of Arts and has become a socializing place that encourages the exchange of ideas and cultural interaction over a cup of aromatic coffee or a traditional snack.
In the attic of the building, visitors can experience, with the help of VR technology, an immersive journey into the universe of each exhibit, exploring history and traditions in an interactive way.
This technological innovation highlights the importance and value of crafts that have influenced the Transylvanian cultural landscape, bringing the past close to the present.
The House of Arts hosts temporary exhibitions showcasing local crafts.
Third Norwegian project in 15 years
"We are at the third Norwegian project and, after 15 years of collaboration with Norwegian partners, with the help of EEA Grants, we have reached almost 10 million euros successfully implemented at the Astra Museum in Sibiu, which is becoming a model, not only for Romania, but also for other European countries, in terms of infrastructure investments and how well developed infrastructure brings medium and long-term development", said Ciprian Stefan, Director of Astra Museum Sibiu.
Testimonies of the cultural values of the Sibiu area preserved over the years at the Astra Museum Sibiu
Supported by the EEA Grants 2014 - 2021, the 43-month project Restoration and revitalization of the historic monument House of Arts - Regional Activity and Resource Centre (C.A.R.R.) revitalized an undervalued central space, transforming it into a dynamic hub dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional heritage. With a grant of over 2.4 million euro, it aimed at an extensive restoration of the historic building, respecting the original features but adapting them to modern times.
"We have been involved in many restorations of historic buildings, but the Astra Museum`s initiative was a special one, offering the community more than a restoration, but also a place that honors the revitalization of traditional crafts. Of course, we also faced challenges in transforming the House of Arts but fortunately funding was not one of them," mentioned Mr. Herman Metzger, constructor.
Herman Metzger, constructor with more than 25 years of experience in the restoration of historical monuments
The team that achieved all these valuable results consisted of experts from Astra Museum in Sibiu, SC Future Capital SRL from Romania and Mussene I Sor Trondelag from Norway.
Mussene I Sor Trondelag from Norway contributed to the success
Future Capital played a key role in the development of the educational program, while MiST (Museene i Sør Trøndelag A/S) contributed to the organization of joint seminars in both countries. Romanian and Norwegian specialists have realized the vision of transforming the House of Arts into a place for the whole community, tourists and visitors, and have strengthened the ties between the two countries.
Thanks to the grant that made this project a success, the House of Arts remains a symbol of Romanian identity and creativity, giving Sibiu a new lease of life, a vision for the future. Moreover, it is also a contemporary demonstration that cultural heritage can be harnessed and revitalized for the benefit of the whole community.
The House of Arts - The Regional Activity and Resource Center has already made a name for itself at international level, being presented as an example of good practice at CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance.
"In this initiative, tangible and intangible heritage resources become sources for education and sustainability, being a unified concept applied in the urban community of Sibiu and the region.
The certification of craftsmen and the professional training generated by this project transform the Astra Museum into a cultural institution that offers solutions to contemporary needs, provides recipes for the Green Transition and ensures a sustainable future for identity values. The project has been presented in Dublin, Paris, Lahti (Finland) at the General Assembly of NEMO (Network of European Museums Organizations) and was very well received. Practically through this project, the Astra Museum is the only museum in Europe with an ethnographic profile that is authorized at national level to certify the skills of craftsmen, to train future craftsmen through cultural entrepreneurship. The project will give birth to other projects with national and international impact, as we are aware of the human resources still existing in rural Romania", added Ciprian Ștefan, Director of Astra Museum Sibiu.
EEA grants and partnership with Norway were the guarantee of success
The visible and remarkable transformation of the House of Arts in Sibiu would not have been possible without the EEA Grants 2014 - 2021, which are designed to reduce social and economic disparities, strengthen relations between donor and recipient countries and promote sustainable development, turning all these objectives into real missions.
Romania has benefited from the second largest allocation of EEA and Norway Grants, vital for building a prosperous and equitable future for all its citizens. The partnership between Astra Museum Sibiu and MiST has demonstrated this since the implementation of the project "Open Heritage. Increasing public accessibility to the multi-ethnic values in the heritage of the ASTRA Museum", concluded in 2017, one of the projects that paved the way with examples of good practice for the restoration initiative of the House of Arts.
The EEA and Norway Grants are the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary countries in Eastern and Southern Europe and the Baltic States. These funding mechanisms are established on the basis of the European Economic Area Agreement which brings together EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three countries have contributed 3.3 billion euro between 1994 and 2014 and 2.8 billion euro for the 2014-2021 financing period.
More details on www.eeagrants.org.