Renovated building of the Academy of Fine Arts in Ilica 83 opened
The Academy of Fine Arts reopened the renovated building "Slava Raškaj" in Ilica 83, which began a new chapter in the life of the Academy and its premises.
After more than six years since the Zagreb earthquake, the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Zagreb has reopened the renovated building "Slava Raškaj" in Ilica 83.
EUR 15.14 million was invested in the renovation of the building, which was severely damaged in the earthquake on March 22, 2020. The renovation covered approximately 5,000 square meters of space, of which the Academy uses 3,600 square meters of teaching, workshop and other specialized spaces intended for artistic education and work.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović, the Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, the Rector of the University of Zagreb Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, the Director of the Directorate for Science and Technology Hrvoje Meštrić, the Director of the Center for Education "Slava Raškaj" Jelena Grabovac and the Envoy of the Mayor of the City of Zagreb and the Head of the City Office for Culture and Civil Society Emina Višnić. The host of the ceremony was Prof. Dr. art. Aleksandar Battista Ilić, Acting Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts.
New space for the Department of Animation and the Department of New Media
The renovated building brings a new home to two departments of the Academy – the Department of Animation and the Department of New Media, which, after 27 years, receive appropriate spatial conditions for teaching, production and development of artistic and research practices.
The renovation included the structure of the building, the façade, the staircase, the mezzanine structures and the roof, as well as the complete energy and functional renovation, as well as the reorganization and modernization of the space.
A particularly important change has been made in the previously unused attic, where a new 600 square meters of space has been arranged. Once neglected and unused, the space is now intended for students and teaching work of the Department of Animation and the Department of New Media.
The former chapel has been transformed into a modern hall, while the existing premises have been renovated while respecting the value and character of the building.
With the opening of the "Slava Raškaj" building, the Academy has achieved one of the largest infrastructural expansions in its history and continues to create better conditions for education, artistic work and the development of new artistic practices.
The renovation of Ilica 83 is part of a wider project of renovation of the facilities of the Academy of Fine Arts at the locations of Ilica 83, Ilica 85 and Jabukovac 10. The main building of the Academy in Ilica 85 was renovated with an investment of 22.46 million euros, while the renovation of the building at Jabukovac 10, worth 5.4 million euros, is still underway.
The total value of the renovation of the Academy's three facilities exceeds 43 million euros.
