The new building of the City Theater in Podgorica was officially opened

After ten years of waiting, the new building of the City Theater was officially opened in Podgorica.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that he was honored to mark the moment in which a great cultural institution, after seven and a half decades of creativity, is getting the home it deserves.

"The City Theatre has been creating for 75 years without its own home. The scenes, addresses and generations of artists have changed, but its artistic strength and the loyalty of its great audience have never disappeared. More than a million spectators have grown up with the performances of the City Theatre. This shows that it has long been not only a cultural institution, but also a part of the identity of Podgorica and an important part of the cultural identity of our Montenegro," said Spajić, as reported by Media Biro.

The opening was also attended by other guests - Mayor of Podgorica Saša Mujović, Director of the City Theater Sandra Vujović, President of the Capital City Assembly Srđan Perić, Minister of Education Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, artists, councilors, MPs, and secretaries of the city secretariats.

The ceremony was enhanced by performances by the "MonteVox" choir and opera singer Olivera Tičević.

Spajić said that the symbolism is stronger because they gathered on July 13th - Montenegro's Statehood Day.

"Today, we affirm that freedom by building a society in which culture and creativity are as important for the future of the country as courage and determination once were for its defense. I wish for all of us that this will be a place that will remind us that the most enduring values ​​of a society are not built only with laws and investments, but primarily with creativity and knowledge," said Spajić.

He said that we are living in a period that will prove that the future of Montenegro has been turned upside down.

Montenegro's accession process to the European Union (EU), says Spajić, is not only important because of the reforms being implemented.

"Its greatest value is that it encourages us to build stronger institutions and a more responsible society. Our wish is that this period will be marked by an infrastructural renaissance," said the Prime Minister.

According to him, societies are not only remembered for what they have built, but also for the values ​​they have left behind.

"We must not see investment in culture as a matter of prestige, but exclusively as an investment in a society that preserves its identity, but is open enough to accept new ideas and participate equally in the European cultural space."

He recalled that Podgorica will be the European Youth Capital in 2028.

"This will be one of the most important addresses where the creative energy of our capital and the whole of Montenegro will be presented. I believe that this theater will be much more than the new address of a great institution. It will be a place where Montenegro will continue to build the most valuable things it has - education, freedom and self-aware individuals."

He congratulated the city management and Mayor Mujović for completing the project and putting it at the service of citizens.

Vujović: The City Theater has been creating great art all these years

The director of the City Theater, Sandra Vujović, said that its artists and creators have the opportunity and great honor to greet each other from a stage that is truly theirs.

"This moment has been long awaited and it is difficult to find words that can capture the strength of emotion, pride and gratitude we feel. There are moments that are greater than words. They carry within them decades of human destinies, expectations, struggles, disappointments and that rare, precious human ability to never stop believing, despite everything," said Vujović.

She emphasized that in theater, one seeks knowledge, even when it is difficult, unpleasant, or painful. She added that for this reason, the truth must always be spoken in it.

"It is true that the City Theatre has been creating without a home for seventy-five years. It is true that generations of actors, directors, playwrights, set designers, costume designers, composers, technicians and all other theatre creators have entered this institution knowing that it does not, in fact, have a home. And it is true that this did not stop them."

She said they had empty spaces, borrowed halls, other people's stages, curtains, and roofs.

"But we also had what no theater can exist without - great artists and a loyal audience. Since its inception, this theater house has been one of the important driving forces of Montenegrin culture. It grew with its city and developed together with society. It questioned it and often defied it. But it always belonged to it completely. It created great art all these past years. It created as if everything was fine, completely dedicated to its mission and audience," adds Vujović.

She emphasized that the construction of the City Theater building did not begin on the day its foundations were laid, but much earlier.

"It was built by the persistence of people who refused to let the lack of space become a lack of creative power. It was built by every generation that created before us, every artist who believed in the power of theater and every employee who gave it a part of their life. Unfortunately, many of those who dreamed of this day did not see it. And that is why tonight, from this stage, I feel the need to thank them sincerely and from the bottom of my heart. For every play they performed. For every idea, struggle and sacrifice. For every moment in which they could have given up, but did not. Thank them. And glory to them. This stage belongs to them too."

She also expressed her special gratitude to the Budo Tomović Cultural and Information Center, in whose premises, she noted, their plays were created and where their repertoire was maintained.

"As well as all the partners, friends and sponsors who have been with us all these years. We extend our great gratitude to the Capital City and all its representatives who started the construction of this magnificent facility, and especially to those who, in the last two years, have made every effort to successfully complete the works, after a decade of waiting. Without them, we would not be here tonight," said Vujović.

Mujović: A victory for culture, art and the promises of the current city administration

Mayor Saša Mujović said that no one can remain indifferent to the values ​​of the victories that were won on this day.

"On this day in 1941, the people of Montenegro said no to the occupier. They said and sent a message that they cannot be chained and that whoever wants to rule this land will have to struggle hard and will have to be well-drenched in blood. Our second victory is the Berlin Congress, the day when the great powers understood and sent a message that they should pay tribute and recognition to Montenegro and that it deserves to be an independent state," said Mujović.

He emphasized that today is a victory for culture, art, and the promises of this city administration to solve outstanding problems and that Montenegro will be a member of the EU.

He said that it was a long time ago, in 2000, when artist Mensura Vanja Popović placed her wristwatch in the foundation of one of the attempts to build the City Theater. He said that he did not know the fate of that watch, but that he knew that the time had come, and that a better time had come for artists.

"We waited for Godot. We waited for him long and persistently. We waited for him even though it was difficult. Godot showed that he knows how to be merciful to those with pure hearts and intentions. And, today, Godot has arrived. On this bright July 13th day, we managed to house a famous homeless man... That homeless man was first called the Pioneer Theater. Then the Drama Theater. And finally the City Theater. The scenes, halls, addresses changed... The management and generations of actors changed. The audience changed. There was always that firm mission and thought. Art is a noble category. Art will always find its way to man and win. Happy victory for art and happy victory for my Podgorica," said the mayor.

He pointed out that today the most modern theater in Montenegro is opening - a meeting place for art and the elegant Podgorica audience.

Mujović said that the City Theatre, regardless of the conditions, was and remains an avant-garde. He pointed out that numerous greats walked the planks that mean life in it. Mujović emphasized that numerous famous directors, costume designers, and set designers have graduated from the City Theatre.

"And they all carried the glory of the Capital and Montenegro. This building is for Montenegro, our identity, our freedom and our education. The theater is a place of greatest freedom and our mirror. Without that mirror, we can fall into the trap of overestimating ourselves and not seeing our flaws, and that is the fastest and shortest path to ruin, and I definitely do not want that."

According to him, the City Theater should be a place for the most creative and noble ideas.

"To be a place of courageous artistic breakthroughs. To be a place where we will understand ourselves and others - a place where we will expose ourselves. We know that the City Theater building was built on the foundations of the former 'Kulture' Cinema. We know that the demolition of the 'Kulture' Cinema caused pain for a large number of Podgorica residents. One of those who, perhaps, grieved the most was the former director Cico Popović. I mention him today, hoping that his soul is rejoicing in heaven and that he has overcome this grief," said Mujović.

He said he hopes that Vasilije Ivanović Šćućkin, Ivana Mrvaljević, Jagoš Marković, and other theater aces will "applaud them from heaven."

"I know that Andrija Milošević, Dubravka Drakić, Mladen Nelević, Branislav Popović, Stevan Koprivica, Nikola Vukčević, Ivona Čović Jaćimović and many others who made an effort to please the audience are looking forward to it."

He welcomed the efforts of the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica and its director, Bajko Vučićević.

"Without these people, their efforts, I fear that our patience would still be tested. I said that today is the day of the victory of culture and art. Today there is no place for politics and parties. Therefore, as an ordinary lover of Podgorica, I would like to point out that the construction of the theater building began in 2016 during the term of Mayor Slavoljub Stijepović. That it continued during the term of Mayor Ivan Vuković and Mayor Olivera Injac. I would like to thank them. Thank you to everyone who contributed to my city having the content it has," said Mujović.

He then gave special thanks to Bosa Brajilo, Milovan Ivanović, Brano Radulović, Mensura Vanja Popović, Goran Bulajić, Branimir Popović, Mladen Nelević, and Zoran Šoškić. In addition to them, he also thanked Dubravka Drakić, Ivana Mrvaljević, Stevan Koprivica, Nela Savković, Ivona Čović, Sandra Vujović, Nikola Vukčević, Boro Stjepanović, Dragana Kršenković Brković, and Dušan Kovačević.