The House of Arts (Casa Artelor) is a cultural center in central Galați, housed in a restored 19th-century residence formerly known as Casa Geshov. The building is used for exhibitions, artistic events and other cultural activities.
Built in 1872 as a private residence, the house later passed through the hands of several owners, including members of the Gheorghiev and Geshov families, prominent Bulgarian merchants and bankers with business interests in Galați. Between 1897 and 1906, the building was rented for use by the Covurlui County prefecture, giving the former residence an important administrative role during a period when Galați was one of Romania’s major commercial centers.
After the prefecture left in 1906, the house passed through a succession of institutional uses, housing the Third Territorial Command before 1948 and later offices of the Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej shipyard. From the 1970s it became the House of Pioneers, while after 1990 it was used by a trade union and other organizations.
The residence has an eclectic design with strong French Neoclassical influences. Its richly decorated façade combines pilasters, molded window surrounds, cornices and other plaster ornament, while the tall windows and balanced composition preserve the character of an affluent late 19th-century urban house.
After years of deterioration, the building underwent extensive consolidation and restoration and reopened in 2022 under the name Casa Artelor. Its rooms are used for temporary art exhibitions, book launches, recitals, workshops and other cultural events. The building also serves as a tourist information and promotion center for Galați.
