European Night of Museums, artnews by Alexandra Chartin, 1st year ITA

The European Night of Museums took place this year on the 18th of May. Twenty cultural institutions kept their doors open until midnight, allowing the public free entry in an effort to raise awareness about the museum and its activities. The European Night of Museums takes place every year around the world.

One of the main locations was the Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca, institution which first opened its doors in 1956,  and since then has attracted the public with its vast collection, notably on the Romanian art of the last century.

The public got to roam inside the multiple salons and exhibitions, soaking in the culture of the last centuries and assisting to artistic moments performed by the choreography section at „Gh. Dima” Arts and Music Highschool. Collaborations between the Art Museum and the History of Arts section of The University of Art and Design (UAD) offered a complete experience to the public, from carefully edited texts based on the artworks presented, accompanied by videos in which the students reimagined the famous paintings, to activities involving both students and children, aimed to educate the younger generation about museums and art. The night’s program attracted over 20.000 people, including families, students and famous personalities of the Cluj artistic scene.

The evening was a true success, especially for the History of Art students, who learned first-hand what organizing an event of such proportions  really means. All the preparation, work and sweat finally paid off when the first visitors entered, and watching the children’s reactions and excitement when learning about the artworks was the ultimate reward.