Description
The Jewish Suburbia is a unique complex of Jewish ritual buildings. The significance of this urban complex is recognised and it is on the UNESCO heritage list. The aim of the project is to restore and recover the Old Synagogue and to create a multicultural public space. After the completion of the restoration, the complex shall become vivid through cooperation with civic association Vita in Suburbia, and concerts, seminars, theater and other events will be held there. After the plinths of the interior plasters are stabilized, it is necessary to continue a thorough restoration, fixation and retouching of paintings. The project itself is primarily intended for residents and tourists from other parts of Slovakia and from abroad, students and anyone interested in history and cultural traditions. The Jewish community of Oslo is involved in this project and providing opportunities for exchange of knowledge and experience which is a core element of the cooperation, contributing to the achievement of the projects objective to restore and revitalise the Old Synagogue.
Summary of project results
The Jewish Suburbia in town of Bardejov is one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Slovakia. It includes the Old Synagogue and other buildings which served the spiritual and communal needs of the Jewish community of Bardejov. The Synagogue and the whole areal was in a bad shape and not accessible for public. The ambition of the CLT01001 project was the revitalisation of the unique area of Jewish Suburbia on Mlynská Street in Bardejov. Due to the costly reconstruction and restoration of the synagogue a multipurpose representative space has been created. The main hall of the building is the venue for exhibitions, concerts, conferences or lectures. Exposition at the Women's Gallery will bring the history of the Bardejov Jewish community. Other possibilities of use will be offered by the synagogue courtyard where the replica of the ritual building of the slaughterhouse, which serves as a social background, was built. The long-term priority is to link all site buildings, open areas and the Holocaust memorial to a compact area of the world's cultural heritage. It will serve the needs of the inhabitants of Bardejov and will contribute to the development of cultural tourism. Within the project of the interior restoration, the following works were carried out: 1.Stabilization of the socle parts of the inner plaster; fixing and retouching the paintings on the ceiling. The number of square meters of restored plasters and wall paintings increased to 1162m2. 2.Restoration of the original doors including door frames, door handles and keys. 4.Installation of new wooden floors. The number of square meters is 189 m2. 5.Restoration of 59 m2 old wooden floors. 6.Restoration of painting at unique wooden ceiling – area increased from 0 to 22m2. 7.Creating an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Jewish community in Bardejov. The project had also excellent publicity. There was a new website and FCB profile created which didn´t exist before. Two new leaflet and brochure were print. Press conferences and professional seminar realized.
Summary of bilateral results
The project has had two unofficial phases. The first was the complete renovation and restoration which we described above. Promoter informed and still will inform its Norwegian partner (the Jewish community in Oslo) about. The second phase form our point of view is operating and keeping the site open for the visitors. It is expected also the visitors from our Norwegian partner and other visitors from Donor countries to come to Bardejov as well. The Norwegian Partners started to be more interested in the Jewish community in Slovakia, and mutual bilateral cooperation is more intensive now.