Grivița 53, the first private theatre built in Romania in roughly 80 years, was unveiled in Bucharest after nearly a decade of construction and fundraising efforts that brought together more than 14,000 supporters. The project, valued at about EUR 4.5 million so far, was launched in 2016 by director and writer Chris Simion-Mercurian and Tiberiu Mercurian. The project was financed through a mix of private investment, fundraising campaigns, sponsorships, and grants, including EUR 1.7 million from EEA funds under the RO-Culture program, Tiberiu Mercurian told the media. Donors, known as “ctitori” or founders, and sponsors raised EUR 2.6 million through community initiatives, while an initial EUR 200,000 investment came from the founders themselves. Grivița 53 will host plays, exhibitions, workshops, readings, and debates, aiming to revitalize the historic Grivița neighborhood.