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CERCUL MILITAR NAŢIONAL
In the first years after 1989, the houses of the army
maintained their profile of cultural-educative institu-
tions for the military personnel, namely for officers,
non-commissioned officers, civilian employees and
their families. The subject of the activities was changed
and the political and ideological aspects – predomi-
nant during the communist regime – were eliminated.
One major change took place in 1992, when, by Gen-
eral Order no. 3 of January 13, issued by the minister of
National Defense, General Nicolae Spiroiu, the houses
of the army were transformed into military clubs.
Previously, however, by order no. M. 4532 of Au-
gust 14, issued by the minister of National Defense fol-
lowing the proposal of the leadership of that time, the
Central House of the Army in Bucharest changed its
name into the National Military Club. It represented a
comeback, although partial, to the tradition instituted
before the War of Independence, and an attempt to
reclaim the memory and to return to normality.
The change in name was doubled by a consider-
able intensification of activities, the National Military
Club becoming one of the most dynamic institutions
of the army, an important point of reference on the
cultural, artistic and social map of Bucharest. Since the
revolution of December 1989, the Military Club served
– through its activities – as themain center of protocol,
debates and conferences of the Ministry of National
Defense. Its halls hosted numerous scientific manifes-
tations (congresses, conferences, symposiums, semi-
nars, etc.), some of them of large international reach,
such as, for instance, the 29
th
International Congress
of Military History (August 10-15, 2003), attended by
over 200 experts from 34 countries.
The Palace also hosted numerous heads of state
and government, ministers (especially defense minis-
ters), important political and military dignitaries from
NATO and the EU. It also hosted numerous activities
with the goal of preparing Romania for the member-
ship into the two organizations. After this goal was
accomplished in 2004 and, respectively, in 2007, the
series of activities went on, the Military Club hosting
various reunions. For instance, during the NATO sum-
mit in Bucharest (April 1-3, 2008), the halls of the Pal-
ace housed the Transatlantic Forum, organized by the
German Marshall Fund of the United States.
The National Military Club became an integral
part of the cultural landscape of Bucharest. Tens, if not
hundreds of exhibitions were organized in its halls,
many by important artists, such as: Vasile Grigore,
Ion Popescu Negreni, Ion Grigore, Elena Uţă Chelaru,
Spiru Vergulescu, Ion Sălişteanu, Vasile Celmare, Mar-
cel Chirnoagă and many others.
A major achievement consisted in the creation of
the gallery of contemporary art, in fact a permanent
exhibition of works from the public collection of the
National Military Club. The gallery is located at the
third floor and displays works by contemporary art-
ists, donated by the authors themselves to the institu-
tion that hosted their exhibitions. The inauguration of
this exhibition, one of the most important of its kind
in Bucharest, took place on June 13, 2001. By the time
of the inauguration, the gallery of contemporary art
comprised 130 works by 82 artists, but the number in-
creased dramatically over time.
Continuing a tradition that was preserved even
under the communist regime, the National Military
Club maintained its status of People’s University, or-
ganizing courses for teaching foreign languages and
hosting vocational circles and conferences on scien-
tific, religious, cultural, artistic topics, etc. Also, its artis-
tic ensembles, such as the “Andantinno” chorus, were
highly acclaimed locally and internationally.
The period after 1989 proved beneficial in re-
claiming the tradition of the National Military Club.
