The Night of Museums – the Transilvanian Museum of Ethnography  

6 points of attraction

On the occasion of the Night of Museums on May 23^rd, as well as from May 22^nd–24^th, the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography is offering the public three exhibitions – one temporary and two permanent -, two performance events (REBOOT ARTS & CRAFTS—Arts and Crafts Courtyard, “E por falar em Amor”), and an exhibition event (Mineralia).

1. Performance event: “E por falar em Amor” – Speaking of Love – Casa do Brasil, May 23^rd, 7:00 p.m., Reduta Hall.

‘Conversations on Brazilian Culture’ is a multimodal event organised by the Brazilian Embassy in Bucharest, the BBU Cultural Centre ‘Casa do Brasil’, the Guimarães Rosa Institute, and the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography.

Against the backdrop of an exhibition of paintings by Brazilian artists, the Cultural Attaché of the Brazilian Embassy in Bucharest, Mr. Ronaldo Lima Vieira, along with his guests, Ms. Letícia Portella Milan from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, and Ms. Andreea Constantin-Poppe, will present the translation project of Brazilian author Marina Colasanti’s novel E por falar em Amor (Speaking of Love), which he translated as part of the National Library of Brazil’s project. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Cluj University Press, the BBU Cultural Centre ‘Casa do Brasil’, and the Brazilian Embassy in Bucharest.

The event will also showcase a selection of short films about the Brazilian writer and diplomat, João Guimarães Rosa, and the Brazilian painter Emeric Marcier, who was born in Cluj. The event is intended to be an open conversation and discussion between the speakers and the audience.

• Performance event – “Arts and Crafts Courtyard – REBOOT ARTS & CRAFT, LIVE!”, May 22^nd–24^th 2026, Memorandum Street (co-organiser: Urbannect – your city. Connect).

The courtyard of the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography is transformed into a space where practice and experimentation converge; an open-air “laboratory” where traditional craftsmanship is given a contemporary twist. Experienced artists and artisans from a variety of disciplines, ranging from wood and metalworking (including blacksmithing and brass weaving) to textiles and semi-precious stones, present their techniques, ideas and creations. The focus is on crafts as a means of creating contemporary artistic products, and the resulting works will be on display for visitors. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, exhibitions and discussions demonstrating how craft techniques can be developed further. They will also be able to relax in a lounge area designed as a quiet, fairy-tale-like space for socialising.

As part of the cultural activities, there will be a panel discussion titled ‘What Is and What Is Not Intangible Cultural Heritage’ on Saturday, May 23^rd, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tudor Sălăgean, director of the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, will moderate the discussion.

•  Exhibition event – “Mineralia. Minerals and the Zodiac–The Moonstone and the Selenite”. May 22^nd – 24^th, Cellarium Gallery.

Since ancient times, people have sought to explain the appearance of extraordinary minerals on Earth, due to their perfect transparency or unique colours. The perfection of these crystals has also led to them being associated with astral phenomena. “The Moonstone”, a member of the feldspar mineral family, captivates the eye with its unique beauty, as well as the mystical powers that have been attributed to it since ancient times. This mineral’s special optical effect is described as a diffuse glow that seems to float beneath its surface. This gives it its resemblance to moonlight and its association with the night star. Selenite is a crystalline variety of the mineral gypsum. It is a satiny white, translucent mineral with a fibrous appearance. Its name derives from the Greek ‘selenites lithos’, which literally means ‘moonstone’. This is because, historically, people believed that the stone expanded and contracted in line with the cycles of the Moon. Selenite is particularly attractive due to its appearance and its striking resemblance to the hues of the Moon.

• Temporary exhibition – “Masks of Power. African Art from the Alin Samochiș Collection”

The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography is hosting, for the first time in Cluj-Napoca, the largest and most comprehensive collection of African masks in Romania. The exhibition “Masks of Power. African Art from the Alin Samochiș Collection”, on display at the Reduta Palace of the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, features an impressive selection of 230 pieces, including 130 African masks from the collection of Alin Samochiș. This collection is the result of over three decades of travel in search of authentic cultural expressions. Their provenance includes both direct acquisitions from

Africa and access to major international collections and auctions. Some pieces are over a century and a half old, bearing the marks of time and use.

• Permanent exhibitions

– “Folk Culture in Transylvania – 18^th–20^th centuries”, which opened in 2006, seeks to reconstruct, through exhibits, a rural world characterized by organicity, highlighting its unexpected complexity and the functional coherence of its components. The exhibition explores the main aspects of material and spiritual culture in rural Transylvania, illustrated by representative exhibits selected from the more than 40,000 artifacts in our institution’s collections.

– The tactile exhibition, “Touch and Understand: The Tactile Message of Traditional Peasant Objects”, was created in 2009 with the support of the National Cultural Fund Administration as part of the ‘Equal Opportunities in Access to Culture’ project. Although the exhibition was primarily intended for visitors with visual impairments, it also offers regular visitors, especially children, a unique experience of touching and handling such unusual objects.