Sabin Adrian Luca
Stakeholder’s point of view: interview with Sabin Andrian Luca, Professor Sabin Adrian Luca, PhD General Director/Manager, Brukenthal National Museum Sibiu/Romania.
How was Brukenthal National Museum on the eve of the year 2007, that of the Luxembourg- Sibiu European Capital of Culture?
Not very good! Buildings belonging to the institution were not restored, courtyards and lofts filled with debris, basic exhibitions halls and halls for temporary exhibitions not arranged, deposits under reorganization process and staff without a predictable horizon regarding the event!
Under these circumstances, how did the Museum present itself during the event?
Unexpectedly good! Our efforts and the Museum’s staff work, but also well made and coordinated investments changed the institution’s image in a period of about 12 months. When the tourist season (April) started, we coped well with the flow of visitors. I must say that in 2006 we had 60,000 visitors and 273,000 visitors during 2007. We should have not succeeded if the Museum had not been arranged!
What concrete actions have been taken?
All 9 buildings were rehabilitated, new and modern exhibitions were organized at all basic stations, four parks were arranged in the central area of the city (in courtyards of the Museum) and movable cultural heritage got a new life on this occasion. A very important action was resettlement of the legal bases of the Museum. This is one of the few public institutions in the world that works by administration of mixed property (Romanian State and Evangelical Church Sibiu). Besides a historical repair (restitution of assets recorded in Brukenthal’s will back to the Evangelical Church Sibiu), there was strengthened the civil society’s control over the administration of a public institution.
Did funding cover the needs?
Of course, and continued until 2008. So rearranging and remodeling the institution was finished in that year. The results of the investments became obvious into the significant increase of own income (in 2012 it reached 27 % of the budget allocated to the institution) , the number of visitors (in the last 3 years the average was of 370,000 visitors) and increase of number of temporary exhibitions of the Museum at annual average of about 50.
Has the visibility of the Museum increased?
Yes. Both at inland and abroad. Abroad, the complexity, quality and reputation of the cultural heritage housed in the Museum was less known. After the year 2007 there were achieved great “personal” Brukenthal exhibitions in Berlin, Istanbul, Paris, Gdansk, Luxembourg and some more are in preparation stages for Augsburg and the Netherlands. And next to these, “small” cultural exports in over 50 international projects during the last 7 years. On national level, the Museum was “rediscovered”. Over 40 Brukenthal exhibition projects have been achieved since 2007. They have taken the form of explicit shape “Brukenthal Cultural Axis” . We managed to put in place the scientific journal of the Museum (Brukenthal. Acta Musei) and the series of scientific volumes Bibliotheca Brukenthal. Also rebuilt from the ground was the Museum’s official website, Facebook page, press relationship and easy communication of information have been reshaped.
Was the cultural year 2007 important for the recognition of the Museum’s value?
Of very high importance. Next to internal reborn recognition (Ministry of Culture Award for Management or Special National Award for Branding) there is an unprecedented recognition for an institution of this kind in Romania on international level (Award “Europa Nostra” for education or inclusion in the exclusive club: The Best in Heritage). In addition, special awards, orders and decorations, letters of recognition or its official inclusion into the official circuit of embassies and ambassadors accredited in Romania.
Thoughts for the future?
Continue to promote the cultural values of Transylvania and Romania into our Europe so eager for culture!