Embassy Press Release

U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation 2006: The National Museum of Art in Cluj-Napoca

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the Ambassador is donating US $30,000 to the National Museum of Art in Cluj-Napoca, under the auspices of a special U.S. Department of State program entitled the "Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation." The funds are destined to support the restoration of the west façade of the Banffi Palace, which holds the Museum of Art. This part of the building, which includes a balcony, columns and massive stone sculptures, would be subject to constant and irreversible decaying without an immediate intervention.

The grant is being provided to help the restoration of the roofed upper gallery over the building's public entrance to the Museum of Art and the stone heraldic decorations above it. The balcony and its four columns support a roof area which culminates in the massive stone crest of the Banffy family. On each side of the crest are statues of the Greek gods Mars, Pallas Athena, Apollo and Diana, Hercules and Perseus. The ornamentation signifies that war is associated with wisdom, music and poetry with hunting, with good triumphing over evil.

Ambassador Nicholas Taubman and the vice-president of the County Council, Sandor Kerekes, met this morning to mark the donation to the National Art Museum in Cluj. During the event, the director of the Art Museum, Livia Dragoi, was also present.

Romanian projects financed through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation:

• 2002: Restoration of the Murals of St. Nicholas Church in Densus - Funds were used for the elimination of a humidity problem, a conservation assessment and plan, and the actual conservation of the frescoes in the 13th Century Romanian Orthodox Church, which is considered one of Romania's most unusual historic sites. $15,000
• 2003: Restoration of Stavropoleos Monastery Courtyard in Bucharest - Funds support the restoration of the courtyard associated with the Stavropoleos Monastery, built in the 18th century. The monastery and courtyard are in a rare architectural style combining elements from Ottoman, Byzantine and Romanian pastoral motifs. This courtyard is used by the local populace for art and architecture classes and as a simple refuge of calm and beauty for city residents and travelers. $27,000
• 2004: Documentary Film on Romanian Artisan Craft Traditions - To enable the production of a documentary film depicting Romanian artisan craft-making traditions which are disappearing. The film will show how ethnic minorities have influenced traditions, and demonstrate to youth how employment can be generated in rural areas by maintaining traditions. $30,000
• 2005: "Dimitrie Gusti" Digital Library of Ethnographic Images of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum in Bucharest – Funds support the preservation of photos and negatives on film and glass, and to provide storage for the images. Professor Dimitrie Gusti, a highly respected Romanian Ethnographer, developed the photos and negatives of people, artifacts, and architectural objects from 1928-1936. The images have been digitized to allow public and academic access to the collection via the internet. $21,000

back to top ^