Prékopa Ágnes (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 30. (Budapest, 2016)

Zsombor Jékely: The Museum of Applied Arts in 2013-15

ZSOMBOR JÉKELY

THE MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS IN 2013-15

These three years meant a period of transition for the Museum of Applied Arts, both institutionally and in terms of leadership. The most significant change on an institutional level was the separation of the Ferenc Flopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts from the Museum of Applied Arts. This unit of the museum - along with the former villa of Ferenc Hopp on Andrássy Avenue - was transferred to the Museum of Fine Arts by the power of a government decree. Eventually, this led to the closing of the permanent exhibition of Eastern Asian art, which was housed in the György Ráth Museum (another villa managed by the Museum of Applied Arts). This change is also reflected in our journal - which now is the yearbook of only the Museum of Applied Arts.

In 2013, plans for the full reconstruction and renewal of the Museum of Applied Arts were completed, but otherwise little progress was made during these three years. Following the architectural competition carried out in 2012, the winning team was commissioned to prepare detailed plans for the renovation of the main building of the Museum of Applied Arts. Architects of the Vikár and Lukács Architects Studio (Budapest) prepared these plans, through numerous stages of cooperation with the staff of the museums as well as with experts on monument protection. The plans were discussed and approved by the National Plan Council, after which they received the necessary permits making construction possible. However, funds for construction have not been secured during 2013-15.

1. Workshop of Adam Lenckhardt (1610- 1661): Virgin Immaculata. Ivory, mid- 17th century, inv. no. 2013.131.1-2

141