Renovated Academy of Fine Arts opens in Croatia
The newly renovated building of the Academy of Fine Arts (ALU) in Zagreb, in which €20 million has been invested, was officially opened, along with the annual exhibition showcasing the best student works from this academic year.
Dean Alen Novoselec emphasised that substantial funds for the renovation came from the European Union Solidarity Fund and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, CE Report quotes HINA.
"Starting this autumn and the new academic year, this building will serve as a working and teaching space, a place where new generations of students will develop their creative potential, supported by the dedicated work of our professors," said Novoselec.
The Rector of the University of Zagreb, Stjepan Lakušić, said that the Academy had been preparing for the renovation even before the 2020 earthquake, although "despite the initial excitement, the process itself took a long time."
He stressed that this is just one of several projects being restored, expressing hope that with persistence and determination, all buildings affected by the earthquake will eventually be renovated.
Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek congratulated all involved in the restoration of the cultural and educational institution for managing to renovate such an important building under challenging conditions.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's envoy, Minister of Science, Education and Youth Radovan Fuchs, stated that the renovation of ALU cost around €20 million, and that over €700 million has so far been invested in the restoration of scientific institutions.
Zagreb Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet, representing Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, described the Academy as one of the most important artistic institutions in Croatia, inseparably linked to Croatian art. He noted that great expertise and knowledge were needed to carry out such a renovation project.
Also in attendance was President Zoran Milanović's envoy, Zdravko Zima, who touched on the rise of artificial intelligence, wishing the Academy "as much authentic knowledge and creativity as possible, and as little artificial intelligence".
