Constanța gave the Casino back to the local community

After five years of extensive restoration work and thanks to an investment of around €40 million, the Constanța Casino reopened its doors on 21 May and became the center of a 5-day community celebration. The excitement was palpable, especially for the senior citizens who returned to a place full of memories. The building, located in the pilot area of the Re-Value project, has finally been reintroduced into the international cultural circuit, in a vision that combines heritage protection with innovation and sustainability.

The collaboration between the Constanța City Hall and partners such as schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations contributed to the building's rebirth and made the reopening possible. All partners contributed through human and financial resources to the organisation of artistic performances and guided tours but also to the realisation of graphic and painting exhibitions. Around 10,000 residents and tourists enjoyed such activities.

The ground floor housed two exhibitions: one dedicated to the history of the Casino, with archive documents and original plans, and another one to the symbolism of the lighthouses, realised with the support of the National Maritime Museum. On the first floor, a special exhibition paid homage to the engineer Anghel Saligny and his essential contribution to the modernisation of Dobrogea and the Port of Constanța.

In addition to the guided tours, the public enjoyed a rich artistic program including theatre plays, dance performances, classical music and multimedia projections. Highlights included the extraordinary concert by the National Chamber Choir "Madrigal - Marin Constantin" and the video mapping projection on the façade of the Casino, realised in partnership with One Night Gallery, Les Ateliers Nomad and MINA Museum.

On the promenade in front of the building, the atmosphere was enlivened by brass bands, street artists, interactive installations, and children's workshops. The evenings culminated with performances by the Oleg Danovski Opera and Ballet Theatre, Irina Baianț, Vlad Miriță and the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra. The Dobrogea Heritage Association together with representatives of the ethnic groups of Dobrogea co-organised the multi-ethnic Parade Day which put diversity and creativity at the center.

The reopening of the Casino was not only a festive moment, but also a reaffirmation of the city's cultural identity. Through the Casino, Constanța has rediscovered an iconic building that will always be part of its urban soul.