The South Bohemian Region last offered the union representatives the purchase of the Budějovice Metropol

Ceske Budejovice - The South Bohemian Region has last reached out to unions with an offer to buy the Czech Budějovice Cultural House Metropol. The region wants to establish facilities for the South Bohemian Theatre within it. The unions rejected the offer last year. The region believes that the unions will not have enough money for the renovation of the building, which will thus deteriorate. In an open letter, South Bohemian Governor Martin Kuba (Independent) called for its sale. The unions' response is being sought by ČTK.

Metropol is a complex of buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s as the House of Culture of the Revolutionary Trade Union Movement (ROH) in close proximity to the historic center of Ceske Budejovice. "Metropol, due to its location on Senovážné Square and its interior layout, is a building that allows for the construction of a modern multifunctional hall for concerts, opera, or philharmonic, including facilities for the South Bohemian Theatre, within the existing footprint. The completed analysis of cultural spaces clearly shows that these spaces are currently severely lacking in the regional city, and unfortunately, none of the previous city administrations over the last several decades have managed to solve this problem,” said Kuba, who is also a city councilor.

Kuba told ČTK that this is the last attempt by the region to acquire Metropol. If the unions do not agree to the sale, the region has identified spaces for the South Bohemian Theatre in the area of the company Viscofan, which it exchanged for land near the airport last year. In the Viscofan complex, the region wants to build a residential quarter. "The area also includes historic buildings that are in very good condition and, due to their size and architecture, allow for the realization of a multifunctional hall and facilities for the South Bohemian Theatre just like the existing Metropol,” said the governor.

The South Bohemian Theatre, with its four ensembles, has facilities in a building near Metropol. However, the current facility no longer meets the theatre's conditions. For example, ballet and opera have been performing their shows at Metropol for several years, but they do not have ideal conditions for their performances. Therefore, the region wanted to acquire Metropol and adapt it for the theatre.