The Calea Victoriei Foundation – Culture for All

The Calea Victoriei Foundation was founded 18 years ago

Călin Coțoiu and Ana-Maria Cononovici, 09.12.2025, 01:51

In Romania, the humanistic professions, or those in the cultural fields, were viewed with distrust by many, as financially disadvantageous, if not even as a condemnation to poverty. And that’s because during communism, graduates of specialized faculties found themselves assigned to positions in the province that were not related to their completed studies. Even though some time has passed since the regime change, the situation in these areas has not fundamentally improved, so that some reluctance has remained to this day.

Founded 18 years ago, “Fundaţia Calea Victoriei” assumed the mission of inspiring young people, children and adults through arts and humanities, approached in an interactive manner. At the same time, students can benefit from a Certificate of participation in the workshops, signed by the president of the Foundation and the relevant lecturer. The certificate is offered upon request, at the last course meeting, attesting the acquisition of accumulated information or the development of skills and techniques, which can be taken into account by an employer.

Sandra Ecobescu, President of the Calea Victoriei Foundation, recalled the beginnings of the activity:

“18 years ago we thought of creating a space where young people, teenagers, students could meet mentors, very valuable and very open people, such as Neagu Djuvara, who was our first lecturer, such as Tiberiu Soare, who was our second lecturer, so that young people could meet lecturers from the humanistic, cultural area and thus, through these meetings, be encouraged to pursue a career in this area. Because there is often a feeling in society, a profession, that studies in the humanistic, cultural area will not be very simple from a financial point of view. Humanistic studies help us to express ourselves more clearly, to have more empathy developed, so that was the original purpose.”

Sandra Ecobescu tempted us with some of the events that have become a tradition:

“We are already preparing the extraordinary New Year’s Concert, which will take place at the Bucharest National Opera, on January 4, it is the 12th edition, so it is a very awaited festive moment, both for us, the invited musicians, and the general public. Beyond this very beautiful concert with Tiberiu Soare, we, on our website, fundatiacaleavictoriei.ro, we have already announced the courses and events that will take place in December, and the good news is that those who want to attend our courses also have an online version, or they are a hybrid version, beyond those that take place at our headquarters. On the website, you can see the news from December and from January, and we always try to offer as much variety as possible, from this humanistic and cultural area.”

Over time, the range of courses has grown, satisfying all tastes. Sandra Ecobescu comes with details:

“I would mention some courses that are going to take place at us, which are the history of Bucharest, fine arts, astronomy, fashion and beauty, photography, diplomacy, religion and spirituality, creative writing, etc., we have several courses for each field. And then I would even say the names of some courses that are going to take place. For example, art history courses, there are many that are in this online version, then we have courses that prepare us for the year 2026, there will be a “Vision Board and Objectives for 2026” course, then very interesting courses with Mrs. Antoaneta Olteanu, a very talented ethnologist, who has published numerous books, and from December 4 there will be an online course “Mythological characters from fairy tales”. I would also like to mention a course with Augustin Ioan, which can be followed online, about “Brâncovean architecture. Mysteries and traditions” and, as I said, the courses continue in January. There is a great variety, starting from the visual area, from interior design, art history, fine arts and reaching more complex things, such as philosophy, the history of religions and the area of psychology, which is very sought after by our audience, which consists of both adults and teenagers. The courses for teenagers are held only in the physical version at our headquarters.”

If we also add the Thursday meditation evenings, an online event started during the pandemic, meant to bring relaxation, or “El Greco’s Avatars”, another art history course, with Cosmin Ungureanu, curator at the National Museum of Art, which starts online in December, or the creative writing workshop addressed to adults, “How do I write a story for children?”, we surely understand why the Calea Victoriei Foundation has become the center of cultural adventures in Bucharest and beyond!