Gospodarsko razstavišče, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre

Contact

Gospodarsko razstavišče (GR), prireditveni center Ljubljana

Dunajska cesta 18, SI-1000 Ljubljana

http://www.ljubljanafair.com/

info@gr-sejem.si

Phone386 (0) 1 300 2600

Managed byGospodarsko razstavišče d.o.o.

Iztok Bricl, Director

iztok.bricl@gr-sejem.si

Phone386 (0) 1 300 2611

The Gospodarsko razstavišče, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre is located in the centre of Ljubljana and represents one of its 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 (fairs, conventions, different promotional events) GR annually attracts over 400.000 visitors. Several halls regularly host also 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).

In 2012 the Municipality of Ljubljana launched a new Muza Festival (Muse Festival) on books & arts to popularise culture among the citizens of Ljubljana and to introduce more cultural content to the fairground.

Background

Between the World Wars Ljubljana was the only city conducting fair activities on the Slovene territory. In 1921 a company Ljubljanski velesejem (Ljubljana Grand Fair) was established and the fairs took place in the Tivoli park by Celovška road. The modern Ljubljana fairground was established in the mid 1950s and the construction accelerated due to the VIIth 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 by Branko Simčič, Milan Mihelič and Ilija Arnautović. The complex was restored in the 2000s and is a remarkable example of a modern functionalist architecture in use.

Culture on the Ljubljana fairground

Some of the highlights include concerts by Louis Armstrong (1959) and Duke Ellington, as well as the legendary Slovenska popevka Festival (1964 and again in 2010s). GR served also 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.

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.

External links

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