Ion Creangă's Cottage - excessively modernized - reopens to the public

Modernized to excess, a criticism harshly voiced by many authoritative figures, Ion Creangă's house reenters the cultural scene. Better overly modernized than not at all, one might say. Ion Creangă's Bojdeuca in Ţicău, Romania's first literary museum, will reopen on Friday, December 15, with a series of cultural events, as reported by the County Council (CJ) Iaşi. According to the institution: "Additionally, the public is invited to participate in the traditional program "Carollers at Bojdeuca.' On Bojdeuca's amphitheater stage, the following will perform: the folk ensemble "Baştină' from Făleşti, Republic of Moldova; the folk ensemble "Flori de sânziene' from Scânteia, Iaşi County; artists Maria Iosep and Paul Sobolevschi in a generational dialogue, and the caroling group from the County Center for the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Iaşi. Also, throughout Friday morning, the County Library "Gh. Asachi' Iaşi will launch a contest challenge dedicated to Creangă, with questions related to the life and work of the greatest Romanian storyteller." On Saturday, December 16, 2023, the public is invited to performances by "Pluguşorul cu felinar" from Tătăruşi, Iaşi County, and members of the clubs at the Children's Palace Iaşi. According to CJ Iaşi: "Ion Creangă's Bojdeuca, now restored, remains a bridge to our literary past and a plea for the conservation of authenticity. The efforts made in the restoration process were directed towards preserving the memorial and literary value of this special place without altering its history. The restoration of Bojdeuca in Ţicău is part of the project "Traveler on Cultural Meridians,' implemented by the County Council Iaşi, together with the Făleşti Raion Council and the City Hall of Făleşti, as partners." The total value settled for the entire project reached the amount of 3,065,112.64 without VAT for all the works carried out from the budget allocation obtained by the County Council Iaşi in the framework of this cross-border project. The project included the reconstruction of the amphitheater, a significant educational space, and pedestrian pathways, the rearrangement of green space, and the restoration of the lighting system, stabilization works on the slope, and ensuring the safety of Bojdeuca, costing 1,468,186.35 lei without VAT. According to CJ Iaşi, the value of the works settled for the rehabilitation of Bojdeuca was 699,460.78 lei without VAT. Additionally, the rehabilitation and modernization works of the annex building, built in 1989, which will be transformed into a library and space for temporary exhibitions and events, amounted to 897,465.51 lei without VAT. Several voices, both online and in the public space, criticized the fact that the Bojdeuca rehabilitation project in Ţicău did not preserve the simple, rustic appearance of the house where writer Ion Creangă lived for a period and also hosted poet Mihai Eminescu for a while. On November 20, the Minister of Culture requested the Control Body to verify the legality of the approval for the intervention at Ion Creangă's Bojdeuca. Additionally, the National Commission for Historical Monuments and the National Institute for Heritage were asked to express their opinion on the quality of the works. Representatives of the Romanian Academy also conveyed that they would participate in the public reopening of Ion Creangă's Bojdeuca in Iaşi only after ensuring that all necessary measures have been taken to return this monument of the national heritage to its authentic state. On November 23, the leadership of the Romanian Academy addressed an open letter to the President of the County Council Iaşi, Costel Alexe, asking him to do everything possible for Ion Creangă's Bojdeuca in Ţicău to return "to its authenticity" and remain a Romanian identity symbol.