The Wroclaw University Foundation has won a competition for public benefit organisations and is now expected to receive 910 thousand PLN in subsidies from the Wroclaw City Conservation Officer to renovate the Leopoldinum's ceiling. The work is set to start at the turn of August and September as soon as the Wroclaw University Foundation selects the winning tender.
"The works to renovate the Leopoldinum's ceiling will be carried out from above, from the Balcer and Polonia Wroclawska halls. The hall should be open to the public throughout the process," says Wroclaw Conservation Office Katarzyna Hawrylak-Brzezowska.
The works should conclude by the end of the year, but this is just the beginning of the Leopoldinum's metamorphosis..
"Once we've reinforced the ceiling, we will be able to proceed with further restoration at the hall," says Katarzyna Hawrylak-Brzezowska
Cracks visible
The Leopoldinum is one of the largest baroque halls in Europe. Built from 1728-1732, it celebrates the founder of the university, Emperor Leopold I. The building underwent conservation in 1911 and from 1949-1958. The Leopoldinum has called for renovation for more than ten years now. The cracks in the ceiling are visible with the naked eye. Similar damage on the walls and ceilings covered with paintings, frescoes and portraits representing the founders of the university.
Funding required
The Laopoldinum's renovation process was touched upon Mayor Rafał Dutkiewicz in October last year. He offered a plan to set up a foundation or an association to collect money from sponsors. Mr Mayor estimates that public sponsors should be able to collect around 4 million PLN. The entire cost of the renovation is about 7 million PLN.
"The law precludes local governments from helping universities, which are the property of the state. We've decided to join our efforts with Mr Rector because this facility is unique both for Wroclaw and Lower Silesia. It's also important for us to make it before the starts of the ECC Wroclaw 2016 celebrations," says Rafał Dutkiewicz.
University needs subsidies
The Leopoldinum's ceiling is suspended from the floor of the former Audytorium Maximum, which is now split in two halls: the Balzer and the Polonia Wroclawska Halls. They also call for renovation. Ca. 20 million PLN in total is necessary for the purpose.
The Wroclaw University is unable to pay for the entire renovation process. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education subsidises universities to renovate their teaching facilities, historic buildings excluded. His Magnificence Rector Professor Mark Bojarski says that the university has already spent a million PLN on the project. It was revealed in the process that, 300 years ago, the Leopoldinum was covered in pastel hues and appointed with bright furniture.
