National Art Museum’s façade on Stephan the Great Boulevard will be ready by August 27

The facade of the National Art Museum located on Stephan the Great Boulevard will be ready by August 27, when Moldova celebrates the Independence Day. The next restoration stage, which will cover the inner facades and interior works, will be finalised by next September, when the museum will be open to visitors. Nicolae Railean, head of the Culture Ministry’s Patrimony, Fine Arts and Tourism Department, told Info-Prim Neo that the expenditure estimate for restoration works totals about 30 mln lei, but due to the nature of such works, the expenses might go up as construction works continue. Some 60% of the cons of the project will be covered by the state, while the rest by the Star Bait Company, which is building a hotel complex in the neighbourhood. The museum was erected at the beginning of the 20th century. During the past 20 years, it had been in a state of ruin. Authorities say that after the restoration, the two buildings of the museum, including the one located on 31 August Street that has been open and used for temporary exhibitions, will be open to the public. The building situated on Stephan the Great Boulevard used to be the home of Vladimir Herta and represents an example of Viennese baroque architecture, with numerous ornaments imprinted on the main façade. Among authors of the project was the Austrian architect Henrih Lonski, who is also the author of the Nobility Assembly building in Chisinau. The imprinted reliefs on the façade were made by Nichifor Colun, national sculptor. The ornamental relief from inside was completed with mural painting and fireplaces made from Viennese terra-cotta.