Culture and Heritage Site Restoration Are Top Priorities

STYLE Culture and Heritage Site Restoration Are Top Priorities The significance of culture and the restoration of heritage sites in the Moravian-Silesian Region has considerably grown. The government of the region has been annually increasing the budget for these projects. In 2016, the total investment in culture was generally 329 millionCZK, 474 million in 2017, 695 million in 2018, 847 million last year and 780 million this year. We asked the Deputy Governor for Culture and heritage preservation, Mgr. et Mgr. Lukáš Curylo (KDU-ČSL), what happens to the money, where it is spent and where inhabitants and visitors to the city can see and make use of the results. The construction of the Moravian-Silesian Scientific Library, the so-called Black Cube, and the extension to the House of Arts – Gallery of the 21st Century, called the White Shadow, represent our greatest cultural projects. What is the current stage of these projects? Both these projects are my top priority. The urban planning decision for the Black Cube is nearly ready, the application for the construction permit is being prepared. Then the builder must be chosen and in 2021 the actual construction will begin. The plan to open the new library in 2023 or 2024 is feasible. The other project, the extension to the House of Arts – Gallery of 21st Century, was designed by the architect Josef Pleskot. If everything goes well, the construction of this project will also start in 2021. It will take two years to open the library to the public, we are hoping to greet our first visitors in 2023. Does the government of the region or its public-benefit corporations prepare more novelties to attract and serve tourists and citizens of the region? In December 2019, the barrier-free permanent exposition of the Beskids: Nature and People opened at Chateau Frýdek. We are building the new Museum of Tatra Vehicles in Kopřivnice, a living museum at the Memorial of John Amos Comenius in Fulnek, we have finished the renovation of the exhibition hall and are currently preparing a new exposition in the Regional Museum of Těšín, creating an exposition of the Regional Museum of Těšín in Jablunkov– Museum Trojmezí. We are finishing a new museum at Chateau Nová Horka u Studénky, the renovation of Sala Terrena and a chateau park at the National Heritage Sight Chateau Bruntál, and in September 2020 we will open the Small Scene at the Těšín Theatre. You are responsible for financing live culture in the region. How many events does the government support annually, and what is the sum spent on all the events? In 2019 almost 46.5 millionCZK was allocated to support live culture and the performing arts. Beats for Love, Colours of Ostrava, Dream Factory Ostrava, Festival in Streets (Festival v ulicích), cultural events by Matice slezská in Dolní Lomná, the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Traditions, Carols and Crafts “Souznění” (Harmony), the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival, Moravian-Silesian Cultural Awards “Jantar” (Amber), Open Temples, the St. Wenceslas Music Festival, and Štěrkovna Open Music, to name a few of the events supported by the regional government with 55 millionCZK in 2019. I cannot say how many events we support annually because the numbers change every year. Last year we received about 200 applications (about eighty-five individual applications, sixty-one applications within the Programme for the Support of Cultural Activities, eighteen events of regional and larger impact, support to six professional theatres, and twenty-one projects supporting activities of national minorities). Thank you for the interview. -editorial- Text: redakce Foto: MSK www.msk.cz POSITIV 1/2020 ǀ 59