Sibiu Culture Factory
About this good practice
Since 2007, when Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture, the city has discovered the huge potential of the Culture Sector and designated Culture as one of its future development vectors. The city’s strategy for the next ten years (The Integrated Strategy for Urban Development 2021-2030) includes the development of the Culture Sector among its six Strategic Objectives for the next 10 years. It will enable the Municipality of Sibiu to fund and support many culture-related projects, including the Sibiu Culture Factory which was included in the list of priority projects. The "Radu Stanca" National Theatre is one of the most famous theatres in Romania and set as its strategic goal is to valorize the cultural resources as a premise for the community’s development at the local and regional levels. Yearly, thousands of spectators gather for the Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
In 2015 the Municipality identified several abandoned industrial buildings in the city's outskirts and decided to rent and convert them into performance halls, naming the space Culture Factory. The Culture Factory project responds to 2 major problems: the management of degraded and potentially dangerous former industrial sites and the problem of insufficient performing arts spaces in the city; being a complex project that broadens the city's active cultural horizon from the centre to the periphery and also is a solution for the lack of cultural spaces and helps to revitalise the city's heritage.
Resources needed
Radu Stanca National Theatre of Sibiu is subordinated to Sibiu Municipality. This is why the Municipality of Sibiu bought the Culture Factory (the buildings and the surrounding area) for 5.3 Million euros and will keep on covering the expenses needed for the maintenance of this place.
Evidence of success
The increasing audience (over 10,000 people per year) was the main reason for the Municipality of Sibiu to get directly involved in this project by buying the buildings used for the theatre performances. There are plans for further investments to transform the former industrial buildings into versatile spaces fitting for various cultural purposes. Moreover, the revenues generated by this project are estimated to be 0.7 Million euros/year.
Potential for learning or transfer
This project can be another successful example of the revaluation of industrial spaces that adds to a list of similar projects in European countries. The management team of the "Radu Stanca" Theatre together with the Municipality of Sibiu intend to transform the Culture Factory into a versatile space in a way similar to that of the Eiffel Studios in Budapest, but keeping its authenticity.
In many cities across the EU, buildings that once were used for industrial purposes can be transformed into unconventional spaces for creative industries, including the performing arts. The Sibiu Culture Factory has successfully overcome its trial phase.
The Municipality of Sibiu will develop programs and projects aiming at preserving and valorizing the built heritage of the city as it stated in its Integrated Strategy for Urban Development 2021-2030, Objective 3.3.3. “Protection and valorization of the built heritage in a sustainable manner as support for socio-cultural and tourist activities”
Further information
Images
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.