Gheorghe Pastia and the Role of Philanthropy in the Cultural Modernization of the Romanian State in the Early 20th Century

• In Event: Evolving Social Norms and Public Life in Eastern and Central Europe from the 18th to 20th Century

Abstract

Cultural philanthropy, in the context of the creation and modernization of the Romanian state in the 19th and 20th centuries, aimed to strengthen national identity. Cultural donations were directed towards museums, theaters, libraries, and cultural institutions. In Bucharest, several cultural institutions were established through the donations of intellectual elites. Notable institutions built through such donations include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Romanian Academy, the Central University Library, the National Theatre, and the National Museum of Art.
Provincial Romanian cities adopted the model of cultural philanthropy practiced in Bucharest and implemented it to facilitate public access to culture. A relevant example is Major Gheorghe Pastia (1845-1929), a Romanian officer who participated in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) and remained in the memory of the inhabitants of Focșani for his generous donations, which led to the construction of the Municipal Theatre (1908) and the People's Athenaeum (built between 1927 and 1928, modeled after the Bucharest Athenaeum). Gheorghe Pastia personally financed and oversaw the construction of these projects. In his 1929 will, he stipulated that these institutions should remain exclusively dedicated to culture. These two buildings catered to various social categories: the Municipal Theatre was intended for elite performances, while the People's Athenaeum hosted conferences and concerts aimed at educating the masses.
Based on archival material, memoirs, and articles from the era, this paper aims to construe how philanthropy played a role in the creation of cultural institutions for the modern Romanian state, at the local level of Focșani.

Author

• Ioana Beșleagă, Inst of South-East European Studies RAS (Romania)