Moravský Krumlov wants to convince Prague not to take away the epic

Moravský Krumlov (Znojmo Region) - The town hall in Moravský Krumlov wants to convince Prague to abandon the planned relocation of 15 canvases of Mucha's Slav Epic from Moravia to the capital city. Currently, there are already five paintings from the epic in Prague. Krumlov is now working on a project to modify the exhibition spaces in the castle, where Mucha's monumental work has been displayed for over half a century. Krumlov's mayor Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09) stated this today to ČTK. Modifications to the building should begin as soon as possible.
    "We have agreed with the castle's owner, the Slovak company Incheba, that we will collaborate on the reconstruction. We are now asking the Ministry of Culture for funds to repair the building," said the mayor. The primary focus is on modifications to the Knights' Hall, where the epic is located, and the surrounding spaces, where a permanent exhibition of fine arts should gradually expand.
    According to the latest variant, the canvases are to be exhibited at the Krumlov Castle until the end of October. They should then be rolled up into special transport tubes, transported to Prague, and exhibited there from mid-December. There is also a discussion that the capital city might then lend the epic to Japan. However, this has sparked another wave of discontent in Moravia, just like the planned removal of the work from the birthplace of its creator - the Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha.
    A clear agreement is not yet in place regarding whether Prague will return the paintings back to the renovated castle in Moravský Krumlov after the possible exhibition in the capital. "Dozens of messages in the guest book, as well as numerous emails we have received, clearly express that people wish for the work to stay with us permanently. It is up to us to create a better exhibition for the work," emphasized Třetina.
    The Slav Epic consists of 20 large-scale paintings inspired by Slavic mythology. Mucha donated the paintings to Prague. He requested that a special pavilion be built for them, which has not yet happened. After World War II, the work was transported to Moravia in a dilapidated condition, restored, and exhibited. When Prague proposed to take the work from Moravský Krumlov, sharp criticism arose against it. So far, five out of 20 paintings have been taken from the city.
    Prague wanted to display the paintings long-term in the riding hall on Kepler Street in Pohořelec, which is managed by Prague Castle. According to Czech Television, however, the Castle recently sent a letter to Prague stating that the exhibition of the canvases in the riding hall is not possible. Another option is the construction of a new pavilion in Letná or Vítkov. It is unclear, however, whether Prague would have enough funds for a new pavilion.