Vigadó Gallery opened its first exhibition entitled "Chronicling our Craftsmanship" on 2nd April 1980
VIGADÓ GALLERY OPENS ON 2ND APRIL
"Tomorrow, on 2nd April Vigadó Gallery located in Pesti Vigadó's reconstructed building situated on the Danube Embankment opens its first exhibition in the scope of a celebratory opening ceremony. [...] As planned, the goal behind opening this new exhibition venue is to make Vigadó Gallery a cultural workshop and a forum of cultural politics. The Gallery, which features four halls and an exhibition area of 700 square metres, is the largest gallery in Budapest's city centre. Following the demolition of the National Fine Arts Salon, the opening of the Gallery signals the first momentous headway of visual arts into the heart of Hungary's capital city. As far as Vigadó Gallery's first exhibition entitled ‘Chronicling our Craftsmanship', which showcases graphic works, is concerned (another critique to be published later will focus on the exhibition itself), this forum of arts presents 39 different graphic techniques by 44 artists through compositions specially created for this display of artworks."
Daily Magyar Nemzet, 1st April 1980, page 4
NEW GALLERY IN BUDAPEST'S CITY CENTRE
"Budapest's newest exhibition space called Vigadó Gallery, located in the refurbished and newly opened building of Pesti Vigadó, received its first guests at the beginning of April. Following the demolition of the National Fine Arts Salon, the two-floor exhibition space with a floor area of 700 square metres, operated under the supervision of Hungary's Cultural Fund, is the largest gallery in Budapest's city centre. [...] apart from usual exhibitions displaying works of fine arts and applied arts, the Gallery will showcase exhibitions of photographic arts, clothing, furniture and furnishings, etc."
Daily Népszava, 12th April 1980, page 7
Redoute, which building once stood in the place of Pesti Vigadó, and Pesti Vigadó itself share rich historical roots including the staging of significant exhibitions. Suffice to mention the first exhibition of industrial products in 1842, the showcasing of which has become associated with the name of Hungarian politician Louis Kossuth. Perhaps it also thanks to this historical event that shortly after the 1960 demolition of the National Fine Arts Salon, it was soon declared that there was no other exhibition venue as ideal for such exhibitions as Pesti Vigadó. According to the original plans, Pesti Vigadó was to open a few years afterwards. This actually happened only as late as in March 1980 and the first exhibition showcased there under the title "Chronicling our Craftsmanship" opened in the refurbished Vigadó Gallery on 2nd April 1980. Already at the time of its inception, the Gallery was regarded as the home of different fields of arts.
Source: arcanum.hu
Photo: Hungarian News Agency, Béla Schichmann's photo
Vigadó Gallery's Lobby, in the middle: a product of historical interest by Wörner J. & Co. Machine Factory; Budapest, 2nd April 1980
Vigadó Gallery's exhibition halls; Budapest, 2nd April 1980
