www.unitbv.ro

15 January 2024

For Transilvania University of Brașov, the commitment to the community at its core translates into active involvement in its cultural life. Over the last 5 years, the university has hosted nearly 500 concerts, exhibitions, book launches, and film screenings organised by the Multicultural Center and the Music Center. With three Steinway & Sons pianos, a generous art gallery, and two event halls, these two structures are unique in the Romanian academic environment.

From 2018 to the present, Transilvania University's Multicultural Center has curated around 50 exhibitions, 150 concerts, 150 readings or book launches, and 50 film screenings. These events featured jazz musicians such as Evan Parker, John Surman, Mircea Tiberian, Mat Maneri, Dan Tepfer, and Lucian Ban. Renowned writers like Narine Abgaryan, Zeruya Shalev, and Vasile Ernu, as well as visual artists like Suzana Fântânariu, Nicolae Comănescu, and Lea Rasovsky, have also graced the university's cultural stage.

The Multicultural Center serves not only as a meeting space between the community and contemporary art but also as a program of events and projects designed to promote artistic expression and the ideas of various cultures shaping our world. Beyond the actual concerts, the unique concept of the Chamber Jazz@Transilvania University program, curated by pianist and composer Lucian Ban, provides a context for memorable encounters with artists, invited by Adrian Lăcătuș, the director of the Center, to discuss their music.

The "Artist in Residence@Transilvania University" program hosted visual artists Philippe Thomarel (Guadalupe, France) and Sasha Meret (USA), who worked in the university's ArtLab before exhibiting at the Multicultural Center. This initiative not only provides exposure and recognition for local artists but also highlights them through personal exhibitions and the creation of a high-quality graphic album. In 2023, the pilot edition of this project and the 6th edition of the European Poetry Biennial secured funding through a project competition launched by the Brașov City Hall.

The community has acknowledged the significant contribution of the Multicultural Center to the city's cultural life by awarding it the Cultural Organization of the Year prize at the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023 Brașov Cultural Awards Galas.

Focused mainly on promoting classical music, Transilvania University's Music Center has organized 100 concerts and recitals over the past five years, featuring over 300 prominent national and international artists. Notable performers include pianists Alina Bercu and Sun Jun, violinists Valentin Șerban and Eszter Kleinman, organists Ursula Philippi, Eckart, and Steffen Schlandt, jazz musicians Norbert Detaeye and Nicolas Simion, the ”Jesus College Cambridge” choir, and the traditional Chinese opera theater Peking from Beijing.

The Center's traditional events, such as the ”Concert Season”, the ”Opening Concert of the academic year”, the ”St. Nicholas Evening”, and the ”Concert dedicated to Transilvania University Day”, consistently draw an impressive audience, either in the spacious University Hall or in the virtual environment.

Among the awards received by Transilvania University's Music Center are the debut award granted to the Chamber Orchestra of Transilvania University of Brașov and the Musical Project of the Year award obtained by Alina Bercu for Beethoven's complete piano sonatas at the 2019 Brașov Cultural Awards.

In 2024, both centers of Transilvania University of Brașov will continue to propose original, challenging, and relevant programs and events for both its students and the local public.