The museum is the beneficiary of the patrimony, programme, theme and structure of the Asociaţiunea ("Association") Museum. The latter was the first museum of the Romanians in Transylvania, opened in 1905, then closed in 1950 out of political reasons. Inaugurated in 1993, the Astra Museum has been meant to be representative for Transylvanian culture and civilization from an interethnic and interdisciplinary perspective. The scientific research of its valuable folk art collections is the permanent concern of the institution alongside the preservation of the traditional artistic crafts, with special attention both to the objects created and to their authors, "human living treasures" of material and spiritual values. Through its entire activity, the museum presents complex and varied examples of folk creation and the social environment in which they took place, also giving a vivid picture of the relationship between the cultural deeds and their creators and all those who spread it. In order to stimulate the current production, which is the only way to preserve old crafts, the museum yearly organizes a National Contest of Crafts-children called "Traditional artistic crafts" which aims to revive traditions, as well as to make the children aware of the heritage of the Romanian culture, civilization and folk art. The 6-18-year olds who meet in this camp gather from all the ethnographic regions of the country; they wear the costumes specific to their villages and bring raw or semi-finite objects which they are going to finish during this competition organised in the generous area of the open-air museum in Dumbrava Sibiului. The Academy of Romanian Traditional Arts is the main institution to establish the most accomplished individual values in all the fields of traditional folk culture and art. It comprises several sections: arts, music, literature, etc. The festival "The Days of the Academy of Romanian Traditional Arts" consists of events dedicated to the evaluation of the exceptional folk creators who preserve everything that is traditional. The members of the "Academy" are true "maîtres d'école" and members of the future generations of artisans to safeguard and pass on folk art and crafts. Temporary Romanian folk art theme-exhibitions organized by this museum feature costumes and textiles, pottery, behind-glass painted icons, masks, dyed eggs or traditional customs for the most part.
by Plural magazine
