The completion of the Ostrava House of Art could start in 2013

Ostrava - The appearance of the extension of the Ostrava House of Arts is known. The winning design by architect Josef Pleskot could begin implementation in 2013. It will cost 500 million crowns. The construction is to be financed by the regional office and the European Union. Jiří Jůza, the director of the Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava (GVUO), said this today to ČTK.
"The extension of the existing House of Arts is an inevitable matter. The House of Arts, an architectural gem from 1926, no longer meets all the needs of a gallery for the 21st century. The exhibition spaces are insufficient, as is all the other support for the institution's activities and for visitors," Jůza said.
He added that Pleskot's winning design primarily meets financial limits. "Moreover, it will be a building open to visitors, allowing our institution to develop for the next 100 years," said the director, adding that construction could start in the second half of 2013. "We are still working on the financial sources at this moment. However, it will be about funds from our founder, which is the region, and sources from the European Union," he explained.
The new House of Arts should solve several current key issues. Spaces for permanent exhibitions from the GVUO collections, which currently practically do not exist, will gain an area of 1,850 square meters. Exhibition halls for temporary exhibitions will offer 1,150 square meters. A new entrance zone with information panels and screens will also be created. According to the project, there will also be space for an information center, facilities for visitors, a souvenir shop, and a café.
"The new House of Arts will become a modern art museum, a multifunctional institution, and a cultural center for the 21st century that ensures user comfort, quality of exhibitions and displays, public accessibility, and sufficient facilities for exhibition preparation," said the gallery spokesperson Jana Šrubařová.
According to her, the public can learn about the project and the intentions of the gallery management on May 30. A project presentation combined with a public discussion will take place at 5:00 PM in the Ostrava House of Arts.
The Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava was established in 1952 as a regional gallery. It is located in the House of Arts built in 1926, a significant building of modern architecture in Ostrava. The gallery's collections include, for example, Czech art from the 19th and 20th centuries, but it also has a collection of European art, including works by Italian authors and examples of Rudolfine mannerism painting.