Mimara Museum reopens after six years of post-earthquake reconstruction

After six years of extensive post-earthquake reconstruction, Zagreb’s Mimara Museum has officially reopened in a ceremony on Tuesday evening attended by state and city officials, representatives of religious communities and members of the diplomatic corps.

The €75 million project was one of the most complex reconstruction efforts. Both the building’s interior and exterior have been restored, including the facade’s original yellow color and architectural details.

The museum also features a completely new permanent exhibition, combining contemporary presentation methods with the results of extensive conservation and restoration work on the historic building and its collections.

“The renovation of the building would have been only half the journey had we not used this generational undertaking as an opportunity to take another step forward and create a new permanent exhibition,” said Tajana Pleše, director of the Mimara Museum.

She said the exhibition presents the collection donated by Ante Topić Mimara to the Croatian people and the country, reflecting his desire to enrich the national collection of cultural treasures and values in a new, contemporary way.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also addressed the guests, expressing hope that the renovated museum and its collection would be accessible to people across Croatia and visitors from around the world.

He said the project was financed through the EU Solidarity Fund, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the state budget.

“This project will be a source of pride for the City of Zagreb and sends an important message about culture, as well as the complexity of the reconstruction process,” Plenković said at the opening.

The restored facade, illuminated with new lighting for the ceremony, once again makes the Mimara Museum a recognizable landmark of Zagreb.

Of the museum’s collection of 3,900 works of art, 1,200 have been selected for the initial exhibition, designed to offer visitors a distinctive experience through a contemporary and innovative approach.

The Mimara Museum will open to the public on November 7.