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Warhol Museum takes on a unique look
Europe's only Andy Warhol museum located in Medzilaborce is changing its face. It is thanks to a significant investment action of its founder, the Prešov Self-Governing Region (PSK), which is investing a little over 12.7 million euros from its own and state resources into the complex reconstruction and modernization of this cultural institution. The extensive construction part of the project is planned to be completed by the end of this year and then focus on the interior and multimedia elements. It plans to open the renovated museum of unique appearance with a walking facade, amphitheatre and bistro to visitors at the beginning of the coming summer.
Last April, the Prešov Self-Governing Region launched a general overhaul of the 40-year-old building of the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce. After years of preparation, thanks to its own financial resources and support from the Ministry of Finance, it embarked on an ambitious construction project that will consume nearly 12.7 million euros. The modern building will be characterised by a 250-tonne steel structure with exhibition blackboxes and a roof terrace on the outside, while the inside will be dominated by a modern interior and multimedia or interactive elements with an estimated budget of over 2 million euros.
"It is a truly unique and original project that has undergone a long preparation and that has been prepared with us and the museum for four years by the Faculty of Arts of the Technical University in Košice. I am pleased that we can already see the clear outlines of the new Warhol Museum headquarters, which after our investment action will be not only representative and attractive, but also modern and competitive with European cultural institutions. Swe are currently making every effort to go according to the set timetable as far as the construction part is concerned, and we are succeeding in doing so, and to catch any potential problems that appear here due to the poor technical condition of the original building," said on Monday (19.8.) at the inspection day the chairman of the PSK Milan Majerský.
The region wants to complete the construction part of the project by the end of 2024 and open the museum after renovation in early summer 2025. Currently, almost 60 % have been rebuilt out of the total package of money, with €5.6 million remaining to be spent in terms of finance.
"The museum is of supra-regional importance because of its uniqueness and its reconstruction will make this small but beautiful region, which needs impulses to attract tourists, more attractive, but also our whole region and Slovakia. However, it is very demanding financially, so we are constantly negotiating with ministries and looking for other sources for its financial coverage," added the chairman of the PSK.
After extensive demolition, earthwork and foundation works carried out in 2023, intensive work began this year on the insulation of the façade and roof, replacement of wiring, installation of windows and steel structure with the installation of exhibition blackboxes.
Later on, the reconstruction of gas equipment and air-conditioning ducts, as well as works on the rough construction of the fountain, were carried out. They are currently concentrating on the relocation of the sewer and water mains, the construction of an elevator shaft that will lead to the roof and other work on the steel structure. The rough external structures are already almost 100 %, it remains to add temporary railings and elements that are not of a static nature.
In the final phase of the construction work, the interior matters will be completed. Specifically, floors, tiles, tiles, infill constructions, suspended ceilings or plastering and the internal staircase will be next.
"We are delighted with the progress we are seeing on site. There hasn't been a single day when it has been interrupted for any reason and when there has been a significant problem to deal with. It is also thanks to good communication between the contractors, the design team and the investor that everything is going as it should. From the point of view of us as museum professionals, we see the scale of the works being carried out and the fact that a space will be created here where we will be able to fulfil our museum visions as a great thing. The museum will look different and will change from an uninviting building into a multifunctional, multi-genre, interactive space and a great representative of the museum of the 21st century," added Martin Cubjak, the director of MMUAW in Medzilaborce.
The museum modernisation project is being carried out by Swietelsky-Slovakia and GMT projekt and generally includes the reconstruction of the entrance area, the façade, as well as the construction of an extension and superstructure, including new staircases, sanitary facilities, lighting and lifts. One external elevator will also be added in the depository itself, which will be unique in Europe and thanks to which the paintings will reach every floor.
As for the interior, new studios will be built, a relaxation area with a bistro will be created, small changes will be made to the layout of the exhibitions, and the galleries and the depository will be expanded in general. There will also be an exclusive space for educational programmes, new audio guide applications or multimedia-interactive hardware, projection, sound and holographic elements.
The transparent façade will connect the exterior with the interior, and the exterior of the museum itself will be an exhibition space. Activities will be held on the newly built square with a fountain, but also on the rooftop with year-round use. The space will be completed by a terrace, an amphitheatre for 100 people designed for chamber concerts and screenings and several black boxes equipped with data projectors, which were installed for the purpose of workshops.
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The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce was founded in 1991 as the world's first museum dedicated to the eminent personality of A. Warhol, and has been established by the PSK since 2002. The exhibition consists of two hundred original works by the artist on loan to the museum from the A. Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York, from the collections of private collectors, and from works that are the property of the museum. During the ongoing renovation works, the works are temporarily moved and secured in depositories or are part of national and international exhibitions.
This organisation was established under Act No. 91/2010 Coll. on the Promotion of Tourism. The founder is the Prešov Self-Governing Region together with the regional tourism organisations (OOCR).
