The decision regarding the rotating auditorium in Český Krumlov is expected to be made next year, according to Baxa

České Budějovice - A decision on the funding, design, and location of the rotating auditorium in Český Krumlov should be made next year by the end of the current government's term. Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS) stated this today in České Budějovice. The state, South Bohemia region, and České Budějovice are expected to contribute to the funding, with the entire project estimated to cost more than one billion crowns. The city of České Budějovice plans to hold an architectural competition for the rotating auditorium in 2025, and its outcome could be in 2026.

"My ambition is to find some solid solution by the end of this government's term, which means in less than a year, that will outline steps for the following years so that the situation is resolved. We are talking about the implementation of such a project that would relocate the auditorium to new spaces outside the current location," said Baxa.

According to Deputy Petr Maroš (ODS), the investment costs could exceed one billion crowns. "We expect that the funding will come from three sources - the city, the region, and national sources; without that, we wouldn't manage it. The rotating auditorium is very important for the South Bohemian Theatre, accounting for 80 percent of its income,” added Maroš. An international architectural competition for the design of a new rotating auditorium should be announced in 2025, with results expected in 2026.

The memorandum on a joint approach to solving the theatre with a rotating auditorium in Český Krumlov states the construction of a new theatre stage in the area behind the southwest wall of the castle garden in Český Krumlov and the removal of the current structure. It was to be signed by Český Krumlov, South Bohemia region, České Budějovice as the owner of the theatre, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Heritage Institute. So far, this has not happened.

The World Heritage Committee, which is a UNESCO body that decides on the inclusion of individual monuments in the World Heritage List, will address Český Krumlov in June 2025. In a resolution from September 2023, the committee requests the dismantling of the rotating auditorium by June 30, 2024. However, the rotating auditorium continues to operate, as the South Bohemian Theatre began selling tickets for the summer season 2025 in November.