Dear Public,

In January 2004 a renovation starts in Pesti Vigadó, therefore the building will close its gates, there will not be any programmes presumably for the next two years. Vigadó Galéria is still open until 25 January, and from February on for the time of the reconstruction it will resume its work at Vörösmarty Street 47/a., VI. Budapest.

In October 2002 the Foundation for Art and Community Culture (FACC) and the ING Real Estate Development Ltd. entered into an agreement about the joint reconstruction of the office building in Vörösmarty Square, which would start in February 2004. As part of the agreement ING would contribute to the renovation costs of the state-owned historic building of Pesti Vigadó run by the FACC.
In accordance with our plans the facade, sculptures and ornaments of the building will be entirely renewed, the concert hall will be refurnished and will get a new stage, its sound, and illuminating engineering will be modernized. The service area will be entirely rebuilt: more, and more modern lavatories will be available to the public, and there will be more dressing-rooms for the artists than it currently is. In the event of conferences section areas will be available and their service will also be updated. Vigadó Galéria will be renewed as well as get new lighting which will comply with the requirements of exhibitions, and the long-needed air conditioning will be solved.

In Vörösmarty Square an entirely new building will be built and will serve four purposes. Lowest down there will be a deep garage, on the three lower floors shops and catering establishments will be admitted, on the middle floor there will be offices utilized by the FACC, and on the top floor de luxe apartments will be built. The planned inauguration of the building will take place in the first quarter of 2006. The building is designed by the Architect Studio of the Hungarian Fazekas György, in the design of the facade participates Jean-Paul Vigieur, president of the French Architectural Academy.

The FACC will resume its other activities during the renovation of Pesti Vigadó, announcing its competitions, about which you can get information from our website. We plan to organize concerts at different venues in the capital and other towns. In February the foundation's office will also move to Vörösmarty Street 47/a VI Budapest for the time of the reconstruction.

Director
Foundation for Art and Community Culture