“A museum is a non-profit institution, constantly in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.” ICOM 2022
Our mission at the Water Museum is to preserve, to promote and to interpret the industrial heritage of the former Water treatment plant Urseni and of valuable buildings of industrial Secession style from early 10th century. At the same time, we intend to offer locals a cultural center where culture, arts, sciences and technology meet in order to open the door for communities that are aware of local and global environmental issues, and also resilient and civically engaged.
The Water Museum is a project developed by the water utility company Aquatim SA and its foundation. In 2020, Aquatim SA started the restoration and the setup of the former Water plant from Urseni from aiming at reshaping it as a museum and space for cultural events. Today, the Water plant from Urseni consists of four independent spaces (2.680 m2 of built area), out of which three historical buildings belonging to the former water plant, with technological equipment preserved and prepared for visiting (two buildings are accessible for persons with reduced mobility), and the entrance pavilion for welcoming visitors, which is a new building, a versatile space able to host temporary exhibitions and cultural events. The museum complex, a 7.5 million lei investment of the water company, was inaugurated in June 2023.
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The Water Museum – connection to the cultural network of Timisoara is part of the National Cultural Programme “Timisoara – 2023 European Capital of Culture”; it is financed by Grow Timisoara 2023 and implemented by the Center for Projects Timisoara, with allocation from the national budget via the Ministry of Culture.