Finalisation of works on the renovation of the facade and the beginning of the jubilee commemorating 170 years of the Gallery of Matica Srpska will be celebrated with special light projection at the Gallery Square on Thursday, 1 June at 20:21h. The programme has been prepared in cooperation with the Academy of Art in Novi Sad and it includes artistic light projection on the renovated facade, accompanied by the performance of students of the Academy.
The projection is the work of prof. Srđan Radaković and it emphasises 1920s and 1930s by making a connections between film activities of visual artists in Europe and the beginning of artistic activities in the Museum of Matica Srpska.
The ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation, in cooperation with the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and Gallery of Matica Srpska, supports realisation of the celebration given the fact that it prefers basic programme tendencies, which include culture outside institutions, introduction of modern technologies and trends in institutions, and interaction with the audience.
In the first year, the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation implements projects that are a conceptual part of the Nada programme bridge, whose topics are human and spatial resources. In addition to the light projection that will be projected onto the facade of the Gallery, two newly cast sculptures will places in front of the Gallery. By bringing works of art in front of the Gallery, a step was made towards the audience, while sculptures in a public space demonstrate artistic values kept in the building. At the same time, this is the first step towards the goal that Novi Sad, as the European Capital of Culture in 2021, wants to achieve– conquering the Gallery Square and forming the Sculpture Park on the green surface in front of the Gallery.
In the year when it celebrates 170 years since the foundation, the Gallery of Matica Srpska finished adaptation of the building it has been using since 1958, which has not been comprehensively renovated until now. After only six months of intensive work on the reconstruction of the facade, the building of the Gallery is once again open to the audience, while the facade got new appearance and first decorative lighting. This last step, which completes several years of work on the reconstruction of the building of the Gallery, was made after adaptation of the basement, installation of modern fire alarm system, and increasing capacities of the depots and conservation workshop in 2015, and replacement of the roof and renovation of the depot on the third floor during 2016. Renovation of the facade is the final touch of the ten-year work on reconstruction and modernisation of the building and transformation of the institution. At the same time, the Gallery has become available to persons with disabilities after installation of the elevator on the exterior staircase. This is an addition to the last year’s installation of the elevator in the building’s interior.