The exhibition halls in the interiors of the former Umelecká beseda slovenská (UBS building) have been continuously used as gallery spaces since 1926, when the UBS building was built according to the project of architects Alois Balán and Jiří Grossmann (winning design from the architectural competition, 1924).
The building and its interiors underwent several partial renovations in the past, while the years 2020-2024 were an important period for the overall improvement of the quality of this cultural institution, when, among other modifications, the reconstruction of the historical exhibition spaces of the Umelka Gallery also took place. The reconstruction was carried out thanks to an EEA grant jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and also thanks to co-financing by the Slovak Art Union (Slovenská výtvarná únia).
The architects of the reconstruction of the exhibition spaces created, together with a team of specialists, a project focused on the preservation and restoration of authentic spaces and original interior elements, as well as on the overall improvement of the quality of the gallery's technical equipment.
Innovation and functionality
The exhibition spaces have been enlarged by removing additional useless interventions in the interior. Both the large and small hall were equipped with a shading system for large glazed surfaces and a projection system for audiovisual projects, new gallery lighting, room temperature control and other technical equipment supporting the organization of social events and conferences, but above all high-quality presentations of differentiated art and multimedia projects, were installed.
Sustainability
The gradual and creative improvement of the quality and equipment of exhibition spaces and the high-quality dramaturgy of events have contributed to the sustainability of these spaces for cultural purposes for a long time. This is evidenced by the nearly 100-year continuous existence of these exhibition spaces, which serve the general public as a renowned gallery.