So the story of the workshops, of a cultural center was born. A guy came and he was going on about a gallery in a factory. In the beginning I didn’t understand, but slowly I realized that we can do also interesting things, not just others. Now there is a new Fabrica de Pensule, with 29 artist, galleries, auditoriums. Another 30 artists would like to come, but we don’t have enough space...
How did you discover the Fabrica de Pensule?
I bought it on the stock market, as imobile development and promoting.
Until 2008 the factory still produced paintbrushes. It was the biggest factory of it’s kind in Romania.
In 2007. when I took it over, the production was wery low, and I tried to make a reconversion, to use the spaces because they are better situated than an industrial area.
Why this factory?
It seemed interesting and it also had a business component. It seemd a business well done, and in normal, resonable parameters, not in that way, that you buy something today and tomorrow you want to make maximum profit form it.
How did you get the idea to transform it into a cultural center?
Radu Comşa came with the idea, assistent at the university of art and we talked a lot about it. Now he has a gallery here. In the first phase i did not recognize the fact, and did not understand what he really wanted from this place in the beginning. I didn’t say „no”, but I had no idea what we were getting into. After many discussions I realized that it could be interesting. Then I said yes. I convinced my associates; it was hard because they did not belive in this vision of transforming an industry into an arts center.
Funny thing is that it stayed Fabrica de Pensule,and it probably has a connection. So we started on this thing, we gate it a try. Our efforts as owners are huge, because it is a big space, but we started renovating it. Since it was a real paintbrush factory we did many things, wich are related to the „internal kitchen”of the buildings, structural things, central heating, and internal renovation. And hopefully we can do an external renovation in one or two years.
Who was the previous owner?
It was owned a built by the romanian state. After the 90s it was privatized.
Wich were the causes of the end of production?
Well, that’s easy: China. China took over nearly every market. It’s all about the technology and the small prices. You can’t make production on lower costs than they do, because the pig hair, which is used in the paintbrush production is imported from China. In the moment when you are buying from them, you can’t be faster or cheaper than them.
There was no place ont he market for this factory or its products. There is demand only for a smaller workshop, and even smaller demand for these brushes.
What was here before the revolution?
The factory is new, it was built in ’78. Probably before ’48 it was a small workshop, property of Clujana. That workshop was exactly int he place of the Fabrica de Pensule, but the buliding is new, built int he ’70. Made by the communists, all concrete, structural, neet. It’s built and renovated by them in 1978.
What were te halls used for?
First floor was used for washing of the hair, and preparing for assembling.
On the first floor waa the carpenting department, where the tails, wooden parts were made. On the second floor was the mechanical processing, they were making the iron part of the brush. At 3rd, and 4th floor the assembling took place. There were approximately 20 different operations, they were making the brushes form top to bottom here, only the hair came from China.
What kind of job are you doing here in the factory?
Now there is no production part in these buildings, they will be reconverted. They will probably stay here in the area; but here there are workshops, galleries, and other things. Slowly we will kill the industry remains here, and renovate the buildings for other purposes.
Which is the purpose of the buildings other then art and culture?
Normally I think It will remain and live for art, if some basic principles will be respected, but we can’t make big plans. Time will tell.
Does maintaining the buliding bring any profit, I mean, is it worth it?
It is a possibility to be a part of culture, it can be worth it. Until nowthere is some profit.
A year ago if you asked a cab driver, where Fabrica de Pensule is, they didn’t know. Now everybody knows. The earnings are not materialized yet, but in time I think they will be.
Downstairs I saw many companys...
There are downstairs a few companies, advertising, banner productions, also a company which makes products of iron, but it will move in a few months. We have warehouses, alos a small carpet and candel factory. Practicly will be no production here.
Normaly if we want to have production here, we will have problems with environment authorizations, because in the city you can’t have any production which has toxic effects, we are between houses at the edge of the industrial area.
Probably te older factories will be reconvertid, which have market value, but for example these buildings are structurally worth more than the area on which it stands.
Probably the old buildings will be demolished, and the grounds will be used with civic pourposes.
The industrial part?
We have a small workshop which we maintain if they want to change something.
Now every production part is automated by machines. Before there were 800 employees, from which 750 were women. Now we have 20 employees.
Do you know something about the former employees life?
This was a tipically communist factory. The women were working very close to each other. Now a 10 meter long machine does all the work. You won’t see people, manufactorers.
What do you see in the factorys future?
Hopefully this project will take off, that it will remain a part of local art and culture. I assumed the risk, but the idea is to succeed, to go on with artists and low budgets. Probably in a few years it will bring in a great amount of profit with real estate, but I don’t want to do that.Great things can be made with less money and n the long run.
The interview was made with Mircea Filip, the owner of the Pintbrush Factory.
Szabó Réka
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