Mánes received a prize for reconstruction, there are no exhibitions in it

Prague - A plaque was unveiled today in the Mánes building, commemorating the award given to the recent reconstruction of this famous functionalist structure. The renovation of the building received the Mayor's Award in the Building of the Year competition. However, the venue is not being used for its intended purpose, namely hosting exhibitions of visual arts. Since the completion of the renovation a year ago, only one exhibition has been held in the main hall. The owner of Mánes says that they are still waiting for the completion of the occupancy permit so that a restaurant can begin operating, which is intended to help repay the debt for the renovation and organize exhibitions.
    "The key success of the reconstruction is that it took place and Prague once again has its most prestigious exhibition space," said Jan Vrana, a member of the jury for the Building of the Year competition. He stated that the authors of the renovation respected the original work, and the successful reconstruction paves the way for the revival of restaurant operations and the return of life to Mánes.
    However, it is not returning to the building much. After last year's only exhibition by Ivan Steiger, Mánes is providing space for one-time commercial events that help repay the loan. The small space in Mánes has been rented by the Adolf Loos Apartment and Gallery auction house, which is organizing exhibitions there. When art will return to the main hall is still unclear.
    The entire building is operated by the Czech Visual Arts Foundation (NČVU), which was awarded the functionalist monument built by the Mánes association after years of disputes in court. They did not recognize the succession of the Mánes association, which resumed its activities after 1989. After internal disputes within the foundation and the failure to secure funding from European sources or sponsors, the foundation took out a loan for the renovation. They promised to repay the loan from future commercial activities of Mánes. In addition to operating the restaurant, it is also intended to include the rental of offices.
    Today, the chairman of the foundation's board, Petr Kuthan, told ČTK that the restaurant operations still await the completion of the second phase of the occupancy permit. He expects this to happen in early April, after which the bistro on the corner of the building and later the restaurant in the lower part of the building and on the terraces overlooking the National Theatre should gradually open. According to him, the operation of the exhibition hall is primarily financially demanding. The foundation must repay 700,000 crowns monthly.
    The exhibition program is not known; the foundation does not inform about it on its website, nor about the conditions under which it is possible to exhibit in Mánes. However, the foundation announced that those who wish to have an exhibition in Mánes will have to contribute financially. The high rents have been charged to artists by the foundation in Mánes even before the renovation.
    NČVU faces criticism from part of the visual arts community for not communicating with the art scene, mismanaging its property, having its board of directors not elected transparently, and not allowing representatives of the younger generation of artists and theorists to join. The foundation has repeatedly stated that critics should establish an association through which they can run for positions in the foundation's bodies. Elections for the board of directors were held last year; none of the candidates from the new association Skutek were elected.