<Hradecký kraj> wants to obtain 55 million CZK from the National Recovery Plan for the renovation of the barracks

Hradec Králové - The Hradec Králové Region wants to obtain funding from the National Recovery Plan for the restoration of the dilapidated Vrbenského barracks in Hradec Králové. The region has already applied for a grant, which could amount to up to 55 million crowns, spokesperson of the regional office Dan Lechmann said today. The region aims to convert the barracks into a museum and cultural center. The cost of repairing the buildings and creating exhibitions is estimated by the regional office at 650 million crowns. The region already has a building permit for the reconstruction.

The funding from the National Recovery Plan, specifically from the call for the development of cultural and creative centers, should not be the only grant. "We want to obtain a significant portion of the funds from other European programs as well. In the Vrbenského barracks, we want to create a culturally creative center that will be exceptional from both a regional and a supra-regional perspective," said the deputy governor for culture, monuments, and social affairs Martin Berdychová (East Bohemians).

The region intends to use support from the National Recovery Plan for construction work and the equipment of the center. The center should be managed and run by the Regional Museum of East Bohemia. "We consider it pioneering to build a creative center as a laboratory of ideas, a student training ground, as a place where museums can collaboratively create with universities and high schools and learn from one another," said the museum director Petr Grulich. The center will not be just for professionals. There are also plans for programs for the public in the form of educational and experiential courses, workshops, and similar events.

In the barracks area in the center of the regional city, the region recently completed an extensive reconstruction of the Gayer barracks at a cost of 310 million crowns, which houses the depository of the Regional Museum of East Bohemia. The Gayer and Vrbenského barracks buildings are of the same size and are positioned mirror-like to each other in the area. The Vrbenského barracks were built in the 19th century and have been unused since the 1990s.

The Vrbenského barracks are currently owned by the city of Hradec Králové. The region has the building on lease in connection with the planned project and is negotiating its transfer into its ownership. The city acquired the barracks from the army in 2009 and has not found any use for them despite several attempts.