Gospodarsko razstavišče, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre

Hall E, popularly called Jurček ("porcini"), was built in five months of the year 1960 (architect Marko Šlajmer); the building is included into the Register of Slovene cultural heritage

The Gospodarsko razstavišče, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre (GR) is located in the centre of Ljubljana and represents one of the city's landmarks as a well-preserved modernist architectural complex. The company was established in 1954 and a year later the first exhibitions were organised. With its programme of fairs, conventions, and different promotional events, GR annually attracts over 400,000 visitors. Several halls (e.g. the Hall A with 5,000 seats) also regularly host commercial cultural events such as concerts by popular musicians from ex-Yugoslavia (Crvena jabuka, Zdravko Čolić, Ceca, and others), dance parties with international DJs or travelling blockbuster exhibitions (such as Bodies Revealed in 2012).

Background

Between the two World Wars Ljubljana was the only city conducting fair activities on the Slovene territory. In 1921 the company Ljubljanski velesejem (Ljubljana Grand Fair) was established and the fairs took place in Tivoli Park by Celovška Cesta. The modern Ljubljana fairground was established in the mid-1950s and the construction accelerated due to the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia that took place in Ljubljana in April 1958. The ambitious halls and pavilions were built from 1954 till the late 1960s according to the plans of Branko Simčič, Milan Mihelič, and Ilija Arnautović. The complex was restored in the 2000s and is a remarkable example of modern functionalist architecture in use.

Culture on the Ljubljana fairground

Some of the culture highlights at GR include concerts by Louis Armstrong (1959) and Duke Ellington, as well as the legendary Slovenska popevka Festival (1964 and again in 2010s). GR also served as a venue for the large survey exhibition on the work of architect Jože Plečnik (1986), and the first book fair in Ljubljana. In the early 1990s, Ljubljana tried to feature on the international art market with the Ars Antiquitas Fair, but the unsuccessful attempt was soon abandoned.

In 2012 GR hosted the Muza Festival (M for music, U for umetnost/art, Z for založništvo/publishing, and A for antiques) on books & arts to popularise culture among the citizens of Ljubljana and to introduce more cultural content to the fairground. The festival has joined forces with Slovene publishers, municipal public cultural institutions, the Slovenian Association of Fine Arts Societies (featuring the May Salon), and many other cultural organisations. The festival in 2012 remained the sole edition.

International networking

Ljubljana has established strong international relations in the fair industry. Already in 1925 the Ljubljanski velesejem company was among the founding members of UFI (Union des Foires Internationales / Global association of the Exhibition Industry) and the Gospodarsko razstavišče, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre remains its member. It holds memberships also in the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), CEFA (Central European Fair Alliance), and IFOAM – International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements.

GR-Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre / Gospodarsko razstavišče by GR on Vimeo

External links

GR website
Calendar of fairs at GR
GR by Branko Simčič on the Architectural Guide
One of the GR architectural landmarks explained by the Razvezani jezik - The Unleashed Tongue (in Slovenian)

Gallery