"Days of the cultural strongholds of Transylvania and Banat" is a cultural initiative that aims to mutually promote common cultural values in Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, and Brasov, through research and documentation of the history and specific cultural strongholds of three urban centers in Transylvania and Banat, the valorization in the form of a photo-documentary exhibition of the history and specific cultural strongholds of Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, and Brasov, as well as the design and public presentation of a cultural and artistic program specific to the three cultural strongholds of Transylvania and Banat. The project is co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund, in phase I/2023, and implemented by the Reduta Cultural Centre Brasov.

The history of the cultural redoubts begins in 18th-century Vienna, with the removal of the fronts of the Turkish-Austrian wars from the capital of the Austrian Empire. Viennese urban planners chose to respond creatively to the challenge of dismantling the city's defensive system by transforming several military redoubts into ballrooms for the general public, where up to 3000 people could enter. Transylvania and Banat, having been part of the Austrian Empire since the end of the 17th century, naturally took up the "fashion" from the capital. As a result, in the 19th century, halls for performances, arts, and culture were built in Transylvania and Banat, recognized as such by the whole community under the name of strongholds. Although they existed in several cities, the ones that have stood the test of time are those in Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov and Sigetul Marmației.

By designing and presenting to the public a cultural and artistic program specific to the three cultural strongholds in Transylvania and Banat, each partner proposes an activity representative of its own specific activity: the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania Cluj-Napoca a photo-documentary exhibition and an educational ethnographic workshop, the German State Theatre Timișoara a theatre performance and an educational theatre workshop, and the Reduta Cultural Centre Brasov a ballet performance and an educational ballet workshop. The cultural program (exhibition opening, theatre performance and dance performance) and educational workshops will be presented to the public in all three project cities.

Communication and promotion activities will take place throughout the project, both directly to local community members and tourists, and regionally and nationally through the online environment (websites and social networks of all partners). Project management, evaluation and monitoring, and reporting will be carried out on an ongoing basis by the project leader team.

Thus, in Timisoara the events will take place according to the following program: on 9 June 2023, starting at 17.00, in the TGST foyer, the opening of the documentary photo exhibition by the specialists of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca will take place. The exhibition aims to highlight, with the help of archival photographs, what was the role of the three cultural institutions in Timisoara, Brasov and Cluj over time, how their architecture has changed due to various local urban planning policies, what major events took place in the Reduta buildings, what personalities of the time crossed the threshold of these "strongholds". In the exhibition, the most significant dates in the history of each cultural building will be highlighted, using bibliographical sources provided by each institution. The exhibition "Cultural Redoubts in Transylvania and Banat" consists of 20 color-printed panels measuring 100/100 cm. Each panel will display 4 photographs of each building, accompanied by explanatory texts and references to information sources. As there is also a cultural stronghold in Sighetul Marmației, which the project team learned about later, information and photos on the history and importance of this building are included on 2-3 panels.

On the same day, starting at 19.00, the German Theatre presents the performance People. For Sale - by Carmen Lidia Vidu; directed by Carmen Lidia Vidu - a documentary theatre project that brings together film, theatre and photography. While official propaganda warns of the "abysses" of the free world, the biggest human trafficking of the 20th century is probably taking place in Romania. People. For Sale exposes the trade in ethnic Germans from communist Romania, who between 1969 and 1989 were sold to the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a show about the disappearance of a community, the efforts its members make to leave the hostile environment in which they live and the demonization of their desire to dare to dream of their future in a freer and more citizen-friendly state.

On the second day, 10 June 2023, from 10 am to 3 pm there will be several theatre, ballet and ethnography workshops by the teams of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania Cluj-Napoca, the German State Theatre Timișoara and the Reduta Cultural Centre Brasov.

Then, starting at 19.00, the Reduta Cultural Centre Brasov organizes, in the hall of the German Theatre, the performance Euphoria, a combination of classical ballet and contemporary ballet, in which young ballerinas perform fragments of internationally recognized classical works such as Rondo alla turca by W. A. Mozart, Swan Lake by P. I. Tchaikovsky, Romanian Rhapsody by George Enescu, The Wizard of Oz or Opera Lakme by Leo Delibes, as well as a choreographed moment of contemporary dance to the tune of Wade in the water by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

We look forward to seeing you at the Days of the Cultural Ducts of Transylvania and Banat!