The Foundation of Czech Visual Arts, which manages Mánes, has a new leadership

Prague - Lenka Čílová, a manager with over 15 years of experience in marketing, has become the director of the Czech Visual Arts Foundation (NČVU), which manages the Prague Mánes. She replaced longtime director Dagmar Baběradová, who resigned at the end of this April. The new coordinator for renting spaces in the Mánes Gallery is Tereza Kurz Tichá. Daniel Netušil, the chair of the foundation's board, announced this today.

Representatives from the Skutek association and chair of the supervisory board Antonín Janák have criticized NČVU for poor management, lack of transparency, and avoidance of internal controls. They also expressed concern about the failure to call elections for the foundation's board. The NČVU supervisory board previously criticized what it deemed an unfavorable rental of a pension near Lake Mácha to Baběradová's son.

"I see enormous potential in the Mánes Gallery and the entire mission of the foundation, which is a heartfelt matter for me. I look forward to the opportunity to work on restoring the significance of this institution and contributing to making it a place that is respected and recognized as a center of modern Czech art," Čílová stated regarding her appointment.

Tichá will be responsible for renting spaces in the Mánes Gallery, which are key to ensuring stable financing for both the foundation's activities and the gallery. Her task will be to fully utilize the potential of the gallery space. "I perceive Mánes as a unique place where high-quality cultural events can be intertwined with high-quality commercial activities. My goal is to ensure that these events align with the foundation's vision and simultaneously bring value to both the public and the artistic community," Tichá shared.

According to the foundation's board chair Netušil, the appointment of the two new members is part of a long-term strategy for the renewal and modernization of the foundation. "Our goal is to restore the prestige of the Mánes Gallery and ensure it becomes a true center of modern Czech art and a place where young artists can find support and spaces for their creativity, education, or inspiration," he added.

Čílová has held leadership positions in strategic marketing, PR, and technology. Her skills include the creation and implementation of PR strategies, management of grant projects, and team leadership.

Tichá has many years of experience in managing cultural space rentals. She has worked for leading clients such as Pražská plynárenská and J&T Banka, and coordinated the production of cultural and commercial events.

In May this year, NČVU elected a new supervisory board. It now includes lawyer Lucie Tycová Rambousková, lawyer David Krofta, and economist Milan Bufka. Additionally, for personal and health reasons, A. Libor Kaláb resigned from his position as vice-chair and board member.

The foundation was established in the 1990s as a successor organization after the artistic organization Dílo and later the Czech Art Fund Foundation. It aims to serve artistic associations and emerging visual artists and to assist them. Therefore, it received significant works and properties from the state, primarily the Mánes building in the center of Prague. Some artists have long criticized the foundation; a protest against its operations was organized by the initiative Mánes for artists in 2013. This year, their activities were continued by the Skutek association.