The demolition of the Garsas cinema in Panevėžys begins

The demolition was postponed for about a month due to public opposition and uncertainties about the artist’s own position.

“As of March 1, the work is under contract, as signed with the contractor. Eidrigevičius has agreed in principle to participate in the project, he wrote it. Of course, in that consent, he does not want his name to be used in these disputes, in a conflict situation on the construction issue, but he is involved in the discussion itself, I think everything should be fine, “said T. Jukna.

According to him, the preparatory work, that is, demolition, disposal of waste and earth, should take up to three months. The project provides for the preservation of fragments of an old building from the Soviet era.

“When you start construction, you have to take everything out first. Because there is an underground site, there will be large amounts of earth, those underground works are very time consuming: pouring the foundation. It should take about two to three months before the complete removal and laying the foundation, “said T. Jukna.

The Save the Sound initiative group protested and appealed to law enforcement and other authorities to stop the demolition of the building and demonstrate that the decisions to build an arts center were illegal. Part of the opposition from the city council opposes the project, and the State Commission for Cultural Heritage has also spoken out against the demolition of the cinema building.

The Ministry of Culture also participated in the discussions, assembling a working group on the possibilities of using the facilities of the future center, with the participation of the municipalities, the leadership of the Ministry, art experts and representatives of S. Eidrigevičius.

Temporary rental premises were found for the Garso Cinema Center, which operated in the demolished building on the outskirts of the city, near the only remaining commercial cinema in Panevėžys. T. Jukna says that around 100,000 will be allocated for the adaptation of the premises. The main theater for the cinema is expected to be ready in a month.

When the new building is completed, the non-commercial cinema is expected to return to the 80-seat movie theater, it will be located next to the arts center. Subsequently, another larger multifunctional space is projected, where it will also be possible to show non-commercial cinema and organize other events.

S. Eidrigevičius, by agreeing to participate in the project, promised to give his name and dedicate part of his collection, but in the summer said he changed his mind, raising questions about whether he could raise about 3 million. European support.

According to T. Jukna, all explanations have been submitted to the Central Agency for Project Management, which was requested to be submitted in mid-March, and the agency is awaiting a response.

Built in the Soviet era, the Sound Cinema opened in 1968.

3.7 thousand The contractor Panevėžio statybos trestas has committed to build the current Garsas cinema center on Respublikos street on more than 9 million square meters. rebuilt in 20 months, the last work can be completed in spring 2023.

It is planned to establish museums, exhibition halls, educational spaces transformed into the building, corridors, an information center, an art library, a media library, and later a superstructure with a roof, adapted for the viewpoint, exhibitions and event chamber.

It is planned that the basis of the museum’s permanent exhibition will be a collection of works by the artist’s multifunctional S. Eidrigevičius. Professional artwork created during the art biennials and symposia in Panevėžys will also be featured.

Built in the Soviet era, the Sound Cinema opened in 1968.

However, at the end of the working day, the city council circulated a message that the demolition work had not started and the relocation of the cinema center was still in progress.

“The relocation of the Garsas Film Center, as envisaged in the contract with the contractor, is still ongoing. The news in the media today that the Sound Center is being demolished is not true. The contractor did not perform any Constructive dismantling work, only the relocation process is carried out. During it, the internal equipment, film projection equipment, cables, installation and sound absorbing materials necessary for the extension of the institution’s activities were dismantled. reason, the finishing materials that inevitably dismantled it and inevitably covered everything.

The contractor informed the municipality of the city of Panevėžys that in recent days the dismantling of the façade finish, which has received a lot of media attention, was carried out on their own initiative by the employees of the Film Center Garsas.