The granary, which is overseen by the Aggtelek National Park Directorate, was converted into a multi-functional space with an area of 1,500 square metres supported by European Union cross-border project funding. Hungary participated in the project with Slovakia as the granary is close to the border between the two countries.
The renovated structure has been dubbed ?MagtArt?, which is ?granary? in Hungarian with an added ?t? at the end.
Balázs Veress, who heads the board of Aggtelek National Park, said it was hoped the MagtArt would become a community space and create jobs for locals.
István Erőss, who heads the Hungarian Environmental Art Association, said the idea of environmental art may ?sound alien? but the use of natural materials in work that highlights ecological issues is becoming more and more popular.
?The wish to leave behind the artist studio is being stressed increasingly, such as in street art and land art, which are both location-specific,? Erőss said.
A meeting of environmental artists from around the world has been invited to participate at a symposium to mark the opening of MagtArt. Among those invited to the symposium, taking place in Bódvaszilas between July 19 and August 7, are the American Alan Sonfis, Ko Seung-hyun from Korea, Ahmad Nadalian from Iran, the German Anke Mellin and the Hungarian Imre Bukta, all well known in the area of environmental art. Members of the younger generation were also invited to participate, such as Liu Po-chun from Taiwan, Péter Pál from Romania and István Erőss from Hungary.
The converted granary will be inaugurated by by state secretary in charge of environmental protection at the Ministry of Rural Development Zoltán Illés and state secretary in charge of culture Géza Szőcs on August 17.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
