The earthquake severely damaged parts of the Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO) a year ago, now a new, important chapter – the renovation and modernization of the entire museum building - begins.

MUO signed a grant agreement with the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia about the funds awarded from the EU Solidarity Fund a few weeks before the anniversary of the Zagreb earthquake (22 March 2020).

Funds were approved to the museum for the reconstruction of infrastructure and protection of museum holdings, of which almost 8.8 million € for preparation of project documentation and implementation of protection measures, including security and stabilization works and primary renovation works, and about 100,000 € for the implementation of museum holdings protection measures. With these funds the first phase of the reconstruction project, which was necessary even before the earthquake, will begin.

"This is a great and historically important moment for the Museum of Arts and Crafts, which 141 years from its founding and 133 years since the construction of the museum building is starting the first, largest and most thorough renovation, which will enable it to become the museum of the 21st century,“ emphasizes Miroslav Gašparović, museum director.

Renovation works are expected to begin in the fall of this year, and the completion of the first phase of reconstruction is scheduled for the end of May 2022.