History of County House and Turiec Region Gallery in Martin
17th century
In Turčiansky Svätý Martin, a two-storey arcade house in the Late Renaissance style was built at the end of the 17th century on a street near the Roman Catholic church. The building has an L-shaped ground plan. Significant features included two rooms vaulted with barrel vaults and a large assembly hall used for official assemblies.
18th century
In the 1780s, the building underwent Baroque–Classicist modifications to serve as the seat of the Turiec County (1772). It was extended with new spaces used as an archive, treasury, and prison. The ground plan was expanded into a U-shape, and the building was raised by one storey with a mansard roof.
1881
After a major fire that destroyed the mansard roof, the building was reconstructed with the addition of all storeys. The ground plan was changed to a rectangular form, and the roof structure was replaced with a hipped roof.
1893
The Museum Society of Slovakia (Muzeálna slovenská spoločnosť, MSS) was founded in Martin, creating an intellectual and collection-building foundation for culture and art.
1908
The Slovak National Museum (SNM) was founded, with the MSS playing a key role in its establishment. This marked the beginning of systematic collecting of works of art.
1923–1978
The County House building housed the county, later district, archive. It primarily preserved official records of Turiec County and its authorities—administrative, legal, economic, and judicial documents dating from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
1933
The first picture gallery of Slovak fine art, titled Národná galéria Slovenská (National Slovak Gallery), was opened within the premises of the Slovak National Museum in Martin.
1944
During the Slovak National Uprising (August 1944), the County House building in Martin served as the seat of the Revolutionary National Committee.
1952–1955
The town of Martin sought to establish a regional gallery, intended to be housed in the Slovak National Museum premises. The gallery even began its activities in 1953. A year later, two acquisitions of artworks were made for the planned gallery; however, despite these efforts, the gallery was never officially opened.
1980-1987
A complete heritage restoration of the County House building was carried out, returning it to its Baroque–Classicist appearance. The mansard roof was restored, with the attic space adapted for administrative purposes. The gallery interior was designed specifically for gallery use and for a wedding hall (designers: Karol Šlachta, V. Frola, Kamil Martinkovič, E. Tatarko; lighting: Milan Matěj, Oto Cienciala).
1983
On January 1, the Gallery of Fine Arts was established and renamed the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin later that same year. It became the seventeenth gallery founded in Slovakia.
1987
The Turiec Region Gallery in Martin opened its first permanent exhibitions to the public in the County House building: Early Fine Art of Turiec and Fine Art of Turiec in the 20th Century, curated by Edita Okálová and Zita Kostrová. Mária Galandová donated a collection of 127 works by Mikuláš Galanda to the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin, on the condition that a separate permanent exhibition be created.
1990
After the dissolution of the National District Committees, their competencies were taken over by District Offices (Department of Culture). The founder of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin became the District Office Martin, operating under the authority of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.
1991
A comprehensive reconstruction of the birthplace of Mikuláš Galanda in Turčianske Teplice was completed, followed by the opening of a new permanent Galanda exhibition curated by Zita Kostrová.
1993
A new permanent exhibition titled Národná galéria slovenská (National Slovak Gallery) was opened, marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the NGS in Martin. The exhibition was curated by SNM art historian Eva Králiková and the then director of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin, Viera Gallová.
1994
The Turiec Region Gallery in Martin took over the organization of the 11th edition of Bienále fantázie, an international exhibition of children’s art, and subsequently continued organizing the event until 2018.
1995
The first edition of an international competitive exhibition focused on book art, Bienále knižného umenia (Biennial of Book Art), was launched under the curatorial concept of Márius Maták. The project continued until 2001.
1997
The County House building was transferred into the ownership of the City of Martin through exchange and purchase agreements. The gallery remained in the building based on a lease agreement with the city.
2001
As part of property delimitation, the birthplace of Mikuláš Galanda was transferred to the City of Turčianske Teplice. For this reason, the original works of Mikuláš Galanda were moved to the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin.
2002
Public administration reform (Act No. 302/2001 Coll.) transferred founding competencies from district offices to higher territorial units. The Žilina Self-Governing Region became the new founder of the gallery.
2003
The exhibition Sculpture in the City – The Dream of Four Sculptors, curated by Jarmila Kováčová, followed up on the gallery project Sculpture in the Garden and initiated its continuation in the form of smaller symposia held on a biennial basis (2003–2013).
2008 - 2009
Thanks to the City of Martin, the building of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin underwent a significant exterior and interior transformation.
2010
The international project Trienále umenia knihy (Triennial of Book Art) was launched, with a focus on the medium of the artist’s book (2010–2016). The curatorial concept was developed by the then director of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin, Jarmila Kováčová, together with Jiří Oliče and Gina Renotière from the Museum of Art in Olomouc.
2011
The opening of a new permanent exhibition: Slovak Modern Art in the Turiec Region, curated by the then director of the gallery, Jarmila Kováčová.
2019
The exhibition Sculpture in the City XII – Dialogue of Place revived the Sculpture in the City project, aiming to extend contemporary art into the city’s public space. The exhibition was curated by Adam Galko, curator of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin.
2021
The Triennial of Book Art project was revived under the title Triennial of Book Art Martin IV, curated by Jarmila Kováčová and Gina Renotière.
2024
The opening of a new permanent exhibition dedicated to Mikuláš Galanda: Legend – La Ganda – Galanda, curated by Adam Galko, curator of the Turiec Region Gallery in Martin.