2023 APRIL - HraMoKaPlus

The Slovak National Museum - Museum of Puppet Culture and Toys, Blue Stone Castle (Modrý Kameň) has implemented the main investment part of the HraMoKaPlus grant project – Restoration of the Premises of the Baroque Mansion for the Tradition of Slovak Toy and Puppet Making in Craft Workshops, the Production and Sale of Regional Products, which is the restoration of a cultural monument and the related restoration and revitalisation of cultural heritage. The result is the removal of moisture from the masonry, restoration of the original baroque windows and castle gate, and a new front and courtyard façade. In the courtyard, the non-original extension was removed, and the original arcades were also restored. We have created a new representative ticket office with souvenir sales and an offer of products from regional craftsmen. Two new creative workshops focused on the production of toys and puppet theatre were added to the mansion. On the ground floor of the mansion, an attractive multifunctional cultural space of the Castanea confectionery has been created for visitors. The vineyard exhibition will also be revitalised.

On Thursday 20 April 2023, these premises were made available during the project's interim conference, with the participation of distinguished guests. The conference was attended by the Director-General of the Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic Radoslav Ragač, Director of the Department of EEA and Norway Grants of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic Jaroslav Mojžiš, Director-General of the Slovak National Museum Branislav Panis and Director of the Regional Tourism Organisation Touristic Novohrad and Podpoľanie Tomáš Krahulec. After the official programme, the restored premises were ceremoniously opened and the conference participants were given a tour of the renovated northern wing of the mansion. The conference also involved demonstrations of the production of Kyjatice toys and theatre puppets. Under the guidance of the master of folk art production Ladislav Hedvigi and craftswoman Erika Kováčiková, students of the Primary Art School in Veľky Krtíš became familiar with the production process.

The purpose of the project is to restore the cultural heritage - the northern wing of the Baroque mansion and to offer activities and services in the historic interior for visitors and the local community. The northern wing of the mansion has been restored to its original appearance, and the new creative, relaxation and representative premises will be open to the public in May 2023.