Not by bread alone

The 320° Arts, Cultural, Educational and Technical Centre in Siófok

MúzeumCafé 24.

The 320° exhibition space, named after the temperature required for baking bread, is located in a brick tower-like edifice well known to most residents of Siófok since their childhood. But who could have imagined that the simple, functional building might one day offer something quite different, with many possibilities? László Juhász enters the huge exhibition space. Who is he? “Nobody,” he says laconically, adding “let’s just say 320° was my idea.” Juhász finished his studies in Pécs then became a film studio production manager. Later he managed his family’s do-it-yourself business. But it’s arts management he really loves, embracing the organisation, cultural productions and sponsorship of the 320° Centre. Juhász is himself a collector. Around 2005 he came across the stored collection of the Young Artists Studio Association and discovered several hundred interesting works dating from the 1960s to the 1980s. Juhász wanted the town of Siófok to get involved with purchasing, but the idea was turned down. In the end he concluded contracts with the owner of the property, acquiring the right to lease the bread factory. The local authority agreed to allocate 1.46 billion forints for the project. In all, the sum of 3.66 billion forints is available for establishing a special cultural project in Siófok – at least in principle. The new government formed last year suspended all large investment projects. The waiting has lasted for more than a year since then. Juhász believes the government will return to the investment in late 2011; meanwhile he is doing his best to keep up his colleagues’ spirits. “We are ready,” he says. “We have even updated our plans.” Initially, operation of the exhibition space was ensured by renting, but the bakery company wanted to sell the bread factory.