Motivation

In the year 2001 the Mária Valéria bridge between Štúrovo (Slovakia) and Esztergom (Hungary) was reopened. During its history, this bridge was destroyed and unusable for a longer time than it was actually connecting the two towns. The bridge’s stubs kept the memory of the second World War alive for 57 years. This was the second destruction of the bridge built in 1895. Already between 1919 and 1926 it was out of service.

The rebuilt bridge deserves to be saved from further destruction by people. To this aim, mental protection is more important than physical protection. As long as the mental connection between people is intact, the bridge is not endangered.

1969 – 25 years after its destruction

Purpose

To support artists, scientists and personalities from other professions who work on projects which place emphasis on uniting, connecting, and bridging.

Support consists of making possible a 3 to 6 months’ sojourn in the “Bridge Guard” residence in Štúrovo, Slovakia, with the right to work in complete freedom on one’s own project, and with only minimal duties.

Initiators

The town of Štúrovo supplies the residence – living quarters and studio.

The cultural association “Štúrovo and Vicinity” takes on the responsibility for the management of the residence and provides local assistance to the Bridge Guards.

The initiator of the “Bridge Guard Residential Art / Science Centre” is the fund “Štefan and Viera Frühauf”. It has furnished the residence, takes care of the selection of the resident Bridge Guards and provides financial support towards their living expenses.

Patrons

The company INFOGEM AG, CH-5401-Baden provides the entire infrastructure for the fund “Štefan and Viera Frühauf”, including the maintenance of this homepage.

JD Software s.r.o. Bratislava provides financial support for the operation of the residence.

Support

You are welcome to sponsor a Bridge Guard by pledging to pay for the cost of his or her stay. In appreciation of your sponsorship, “your” Bridge Guard will create a work especially for you to keep.

You may find potential beneficiaries among the already appointed bridgeguards. If you just wish to support the project in general, please consider a donation to the account:

• IBAN: SK09 0200 0000 0020 8273 6255
• Bank: Všeobecná úverová banka, a.s. Štúrovo
• Swift / BIC:  SUBASKBX
• Beneficiary: Kultúrne združenie Štúrovo a okolie