As a result of a complementary project funding for the “Castle in Transylvania – Strategy and Development Models” program developed by PONT Group, business plans will be realized for Daniel Castle from Vârghiş (Covasna County) and Sükösd-Bethlen Castle from Racoş (Brasov County).
PONT Group has launched a strategic process in March 2015 through the “Castle in Transylvania – Strategy and Development Models” project. As a result of this approach, in June 2016 PONT Group together with experts elaborated the Castle in Transylvania Strategy, a document providing sustainable development models and solutions for the revitalization of castles and manors in Transylvania. The implementation of the strategy is just as important as the document itself, therefore PONT Group chose to continue this practical approach – between October 2016 and April 2017 the organization will try to apply this strategy in the case of Daniel Castle from Vârghiş (Covasna County) and Sükösd- Bethlen Castle from Racoş (Brasov County). On the one hand, both castles are preserved in a state in which their degradation is halted, on the other hand, none of them is functional at the moment, but in both cases the administrators want to raise funds for the castles’ restoration. Both administrators have agreed to participate in the project implementation process.
The activities of the project will be the following:
Preliminary analysis
The preliminary analysis will review the current situation of the castles both physically and in terms of community perceptions. This analysis will be carried out mainly through discussion and personal interviews with stakeholders at a local level.
CASTLE FORMULA multidisciplinary camp
The camp is based on a model originally developed by Design Terminal from Hungary, a centre for creative industries and entrepreneurship. The model was tested and implemented in Romania by PONT Group within the “FORMULA” camp from Gilău, where specific solutions were created for the local castle. The results of the “CASTLE FORMULA” camp will consist in concrete solutions for the revitalization of the castles from Vârghiş and Racoş that will be proposed and presented by workshop teams.
Meeting the local community
In the first place, these meetings will provide the opportunity to present the solutions developed at “CASTLE FORMULA” camp, and secondly we can learn what the local community thinks about the castles located in their area. Moreover, there could rise further ideas and proposals from the community. This activity is vital for developing a business plan that meets the needs of the local community.
Writing business plans for the castles from Vârghiș and Racoș
The business plans will be elaborated using a set of instruments and methods of business solutions that are based on visual thinking. Business Model Canvas, a model that provides a simple and effective framework for any business solution will be used as the base model.
“Castle in Transylvania – development models: Vârghiș and Racoș” – Brochure
This material will present the models and solutions developed for the two castles at the “CASTLE FORMULA” interdisciplinary camp, as well as the methodology followed during the additional activities.
“Castle in Transylvania – development models: Vârghiș and Racoș” – Conference
Stakeholders, experts and young people who participated at the “CASTLE FORMULA” interdisciplinary camp will be invited to the event, as well as the public interested in the subject. The event will be open to the public.
The “Castle in Transylvania – Strategy and Development Models” project is supported by funds from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the Ministry of Culture – Project Management Unit in the framework of the “Conservation and Revitalization of the Cultural and Natural Heritage” – financed through SEE 2009–2014 Financial Mechanism with an amount of 340.782,43 RON, of which the complementary funding is 105.675 RON.
