Skopje, 28 July 2025 (MIA) – Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov and Mayor of Aerodrom Municipality Dejan Mitevski signed on Monday an agreement for construction of a multifunctional centre with funding from the Culture Ministry in the amount of nearly Mden 99 million in the first phase. 

The multifunctional centre, expected to be completed in two to two and a half years, covers a 1,400-square-meter space in Novo Lisiche, which has been neglected and unused for years. It will include a cinema with an area of 800 square meters and 245 seats, while 400 square meters will be a multifunctional space for exhibitions and the rest will be offices and rooms for equipment. 

Minister Ljutkov stressed that this is a new chapter for culture in the Municipality of Aerodrom, which does not currently have a cultural centre. He noted that the multifunctional centre will be especially important for the independent scene. Ljutkov pointed out that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has signed about 20 contracts in municipalities across the country for the construction of multifunctional centres, some of which are being converted from non-functional department stores. Construction is underway for six to seven centres in the capital, and the Minister highlighted that they are also important for the Skopje - European Capital of Culture 2028 project. 

"We hope that by the end of 2027 all of them will be completed. And we hope that in 2028, outside the national institutions, we will have nine or ten such spaces that will be able to host foreign artists and provide them with normal working conditions. It is very important that these centres will provide much more space for the independent cultural scene, which lacks space, cinema, theatre, exhibitions, etc. By doing this, we enable balanced cultural development of all events across the country. I am especially glad that the Government has decided to take such a step and that the mayors, who have a choice as to where they direct their funds, are precisely deciding to build such multifunctional centres that are, in fact, the future of culture in Macedonia," Ljutkov pointed out. 

Aerodrom Mayor Dejan Mitevski said that "Aerodrom is, unfortunately, among the largest municipalities in the country that does not have a multifunctional space", adding that it will be intended exclusively for the development and promotion of culture.

"With this agreement, we get Mden 99 million to finance the first phase of the multifunctional centre, which will include a cinema with 245 seats, an exhibition space, a multimedia section fully equipped with stage technology, sound and lighting. Thanks to the support of the Government and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the next two years we will work intensively and Aerodrom will get such a space," said Mitevski. 

Photo: MIA