More information
Description
The project primarily aims to restore the cultural heritage sight – the northern wing of the baroque manor house, so that currently unused space could be brought to life and offer activities and services in a genuine historic interior. The northern wing of the manor house will get back its original appearance and the new premises will be made accessible to the public. The claimant, as the contracting authority, will take heed of the contractor of the reconstruction work during the public procurement as well as of the maintenance of transparency and non-discrimination. The main materials of the public procurement will be processed unambiguously and comprehensively. The access to the tenders as well as to the relevant documentation will not be limited and will be published in the profile of the contracting authority. The men and women will participate to the same extent without any tendency to prefer either of the genders. Cultural, art, and social events will offer space for meaningful leisure for the children, the youth, and the adults regardless of gender, age, race, religion, social or national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Access to the spaces will be also available to the physically disabled thanks to a new staircase featuring a stairlift for the immobile. The promoter will organize educational activities, discussions, interactive lectures about the issues of the holocaust, the position of women in society, the fight against prejudice, radicalization or extremism, and transparency and anti-corruption. Promoter plan to raise awareness about the culture of the minorities, especially the Roma people, e.g. by organizing concerts of the Roma music bands, and public readings of Roma literature for the general public. Partners will bring a new creative approach and insight into scenography, art creation, and direction of artworks will bring new technology of material processing, and will provide interactive seminars about traditional wooden toys.
Summary of project results
The main aim of the project was the restoration of the selected parts of the castle Modrý Kameň. The interiors of the ground floor, the facades of the north wing of the Baroque mansion and the complex restoration of the Baroque entrance bridge over the castle moat took place. The primary goal was to make the unused premises of the castle available for all season during the year. The aim was also to increase the offer of museum services with new activities and services for museum visitors and for the local community. Both the front and courtyard facades were in very poor condition, the cement plasters from the 20th century caused salting of the masonry and the gradual destruction of the plasters. The structures of the entrance bridge were statically disturbed, the plastering degraded, the stone railing did not provide a safe passage for museum visitors. The historical windows were in a state of disrepair. Rotten wooden parts, missing fittings, window sashes not touching were the main problems of window fillings. Unused interiors had to be revitalized - outdated wiring, lighting and heating should be replaced. The original box office with the sale of tickets, souvenirs and promotional materials was in makeshift, undignified conditions, without heating. The premises of a confectionery where museum visitors could have refreshments were missing. Sanitary facilities for the public and visitors were also absent.
The result of the main activity is a renovated facade with reconstructed windows and doors, all interior plasterwork has been artistically restored and the renovated premises have new electrical installation, lighting, water and sewerage distribution, heating, security cameras and Internet connection. The modern floors were replaced, the historic floors were preserved and repaired locally. A new representative cash desk room with the sale of souvenirs and regional products was built with an interactive kiosk in the cash register. Two craft workshops focusing on the production of wooden toys, puppets and textile toys were developed. The premises of the vineyard were comprehensively renovated. An attractive confectionery area with social facilities was established for visitors. The premises are also accessible for disabled people. The history of the cultural monument is presented in an interactive kiosk and in the vineyard exhibition.
Seminar about the traditional wooden toy in Slovakia with experts from various fields of pedagogy, psychology, research, environmental studies, and toy production were organised. The seminar also included the opening of an exhibition with a presentation of traditional toys from the collections of the Museum of Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV – partner 3). The exhibition has been open to the public for several months. Two international partner workshops in cooperation with Kultuproduksjoner from Norway (donor project partner) and University of Performing Arts from Bratislava were held. The 1st workshop was focused on the joint preparation of technical designs for simple puppets typical of Norway and Slovakia and parts of a small family puppet theater. The artists created the basic idea and scenography of a joint theatrical performance, the rehearsal of which was the content of the 2nd workshop. The puppet performance was presented during the Final conference of the project. Another activity of the project was the presentation of cultural heritage - a traditional Slovak folk Kyatic toy in the framework of several workshops for the general public. The visitors were familiar with the basic technology of production of specific types of Kyat toys. The expert carver worked in a new fully equipped workshop with all the necessary materials. Part of the activity was the publication of the book "Rudolf Stehlík''s Kyjatic Toys" as well as the preparation of the thematic worksheets for children.
The confectionery is a multifunctional place where not only basic gastronomic services are provided, but it is also a space for sales exhibitions of artists'' works, openings, educational activities, talks. Cultural matinees were organized regularly for the general public. The workshops for public how to prepare traditional chestnut specialties were organised. A local carver made wooden dishes for Chestnut Friday events. An interactive book is installed in the premises of the confectionery, which presents various topics related to the museum in an innovative and interesting way.
Finally, the local wine producers provide the visitors with basic knowledge about the processing of grapes, the production of wine as a regional product, the visitors tried their hand at pressing grapes and making grape must. A local artistic carver made wooden vessels for grapes, grape juice, which are used in grape processing demonstrations. An interactive wine exposition of the historic Bluestone (Modrý Kameň) wine region was created in the basement.
The implementation of the project improved the state of the national cultural monument "Castle of Modrý Kameň". By implementing meaningful cultural and educational activities, not only the social development of the wider region was supported but also the conditions for strengthening the economic dimension of the disadvantaged district of Veľký Krtíš (where the Caste of Modrý Kameň and its Museum is located) were created. A number of new spaces were created - new representative cashier area with the shop of souvenirs and regional products, there is an interactive kiosk in the ticket office which provides visitors with information about the completed project, accommodation, catering, sports and cultural activities in the region. Two craft workshops focusing on the production of wooden toys, puppets and textile toys were developed. Pupils, students, seniors or entire families with children have the opportunity to make a simple toy, puppet or souvenir. The vineyard exhibition is equipped with modern interactive technology, which presents local grape growers and wine producers in an engaging and interesting way and it is providing visitors with the history of the Modrý Kameň wine region. The attractive confectionery area with sanitary facilities for museum visitors were created - Castanea Confectionary and pastry shop. In the new fully equipped premises of the Castanea pastry shop, visitors can enjoy excellent coffee or traditional regional chestnut cakes and desserts. Various cultural activities were held in the premises of the Castanea confectionary - discussions, chamber concerts, memorial meetings, thematic lectures, discussions with interesting figures of cultural and social life (e.g. raising awareness of the culture of minorities, concerts of Roma music groups, discussions on the issue of the Holocaust, the status of women in society, fight against prejudice, radicalization or extremism). The activities were intended for pupils of regional primary schools, secondary school students, families with children, seniors and local residents. When organizing events, a large number of entities took part and they presented the diversity of Slovak artistic creation. There is an interactive book in the confectionary, which informs about the history and interesting things of the castle and the functioning of the museum in the unusual form of animated pictures. The premises are also accessible for disabled people. The interactive exhibition about the wooden toy, the children of the wind (Roma culture) and the artistic work of the students of the secondary art school had a high response from the public. The business strategy of caste was enlarged by a new castle buffet, which provides gastronomic services (various menu of meals, salads) for group tours, school trips, company parties, various organized groups or for participants in events organized by the Museum (e.g. castle chestnut feasts, night tours of the castle, Valentine''s evening). A buffet with a pastry shop, a new interactive vineyard exhibition, new workshops with a new ticket office area with souvenir sales have significantly made Museum premises more attractive. All renovated premises are open to the public for the whole year.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral cooperation within the project resulted in the creation of the rototypes of puppets which were designed by artists from Norway and Slovakia together. The puppets are used by visitors in creative workshops. During two partnership workshops, puppets were designed and then made, and a theatrical performance was rehearsed, which was presented jointly by Norwegian and Slovak students as part of the final conference. The partner from Norway expressed interest in continuing cooperation in the case of another similarly focused project.