There is no reason why a conversion of Sala Wielka (Great Hall) in Poznan should not be started. Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski and the director of the ?Zamek? Culture Centre, Marek Raczak have signed an agreement on the conversion of the castle. Under the agreement, the ?Zamek? Culture Centre will receive PLN 30 million from the European funds.

?It will be both one of the most expensive and most wonderful projects in the field of culture?, said, shortly after signing the agreement, the Minister of Culture, Bogdan Zdrojewski. The Minister also said that the project was very well-planned and therefore there should be no problems with its implementation.

According to the agreement the ?Zamek? Culture Centre will receive PLN 30 million from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment Priority: Culture and Cultural Heritage. The implementation of the conversion is estimated at PLN 49 million. The remaining cost will be covered by the City of Poznan.

?This year we are celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the ?Zamek? Culture Centre. Built by the Prussian occupier, a seat of the Prussian emperor has not gained total acceptance among Poznan?s inhabitants. We hope that the investment will encourage the development of Polish culture resulting in a greater acceptance of the ?Zamek? Culture Centre among the Poznan inhabitants?, said the Mayor of the City of Poznan, Ryszard Grobelny.

The conversion is said to create an entirely new space for artistic events taking place at the ?Zamek? Culture Centre. The ceiling, dividing the ground floor and the first floor hallway next to Sala Wielka, will be demolished. Sala Wielka will be converted to a modern performance hall holding 500 places. Another smaller performance hall with 200 places will be situated above SalaWielka. Theatrical performances, concerts and film screenings will be held in both halls. There are also plans to construct a new exhibition hall. The demolition of the ceiling will make it possible to build a modern staircase and a mezzanine with a café to be located in it.

The conversion project has been developed in Toya Design studio.

?The agreement signed today enables us to start a tender proceeding to find a substitute investor and  main construction contractor?, emphasises Anna Hryniewiecka, the Deputy Director of the ?Zamek? Culture Centre.

If everything goes according to plan, the conversion may start as early as autumn this year and will last about 16 months. Art connoisseurs will have the chance to use new space in the beginning of 2012.

The ?Zamek? Culture Centre belongs to the most dynamic cultural institutions to be realised in Poznan. Each year several dozen concerts, theatrical performances, film screenings and exhibitions are held here. The Centre is also a partner of the Malta International Theatre Festival. In the summertime the castles? courtyards are teeming with life as many concerts and theatrical performances take place here.