Works for the "Picasso - Masterpieces from Musée National Picasso, Paris" exhibition, that is to open on 23 March in the Klovicevi Dvori gallery in Zagreb, are being prepared and packed in Paris, the gallery's director, Marina Viculin, told a press conference on Tuesday, saying that 56 painting and sculptures and 40 photographs would be exhibited.
Viculin called the press conference also to deny reports that the exhibition would not go ahead due to financial difficulties and said that sponsorship contracts had been signed to support the exhibition. In addition to sponsors, the Ministry of Culture will support the project with EUR 250,000 as will the City of Zagreb.
The exhibition is the most expensive to date and will cost around HRK 9 million, however, the gallery is trying to curb costs wherever possible.
Viculin said that she expected between 80 and 100 thousand visitors during the exhibition and that this should prove to be the most successful exhibition ever held in the gallery.
Deputy Culture Minister Berislav Sipus said that an interesting detail about this exhibition is that it will open with the closing of the Croatian Festival in France which presented Croatia's culture in France over the past month.
An official in the French Embassy to Croatia, Clelia Chevrier, said that a special relationship existed between Zagreb and Picasso and the French Institute.
The exhibition will be open until 7 July.
