Gray will receive 100,000 CZK from the city of Český Krumlov for the UNES-CO project

Cesky Krumlov - The representatives of Cesky Krumlov today approved a municipal contribution of 100,000 CZK for the artist Kateřina Šedá for the UNES-CO project. Šedá wants to draw attention to the depopulated center of Cesky Krumlov, from which she believes life is disappearing. She is preparing the project for the Czech-Slovak exhibition pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture.

Nineteen representatives voted in favor out of 20 present. Šedá stated that the money will go towards the catalog she is preparing. "This is money that we had as a profit from the Land Exhibition in 2013. We committed to donate it to such activities," said Mayor Dalibor Carda (CSSD). The profit from the exhibition was over 300,000 CZK.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture, which contributed 2.1 million CZK. Total costs are 2.5 million CZK. From June to August, Šedá plans to accommodate 12 to 15 families in six apartments in the center. Their task, for which they will receive a wage, will be to carry out usual activities in the center, such as walks with strollers or dog walking. The city will lend Šedá five apartments that are ready for reconstruction, and one apartment will be provided by the Egon Schiele Art Center.

The holder of the Chalupecký Award spoke with many locals. She was struck by blind windows and people who do not greet each other. "Shops that no one needs, houses where no one lives, streets where people tend to avoid each other rather than meet," said the 40-year-old native of Brno today.

The project has received criticism on Facebook, including from sculptor Miroslav Páral. Šedá and the Schiele Center are receiving critical emails, including messages suggesting it would be better if the author died prematurely. People criticize her for not using the money for sidewalk repairs instead. However, positive reactions prevail.

"The goal is to draw attention to what is happening in cities that appear on the UNESCO list, such as Venice and Barcelona, where there are demonstrations against tourists," said Šedá. According to the city's estimates, 1.5 to 2 million tourists visit Krumlov annually. The net income of the city from tourism is 12 million CZK.

Representative Petr Šandera (KSCM) said that the people of Krumlov are angry with themselves because someone from outside has come to shock them and force them to think differently about everyday things. According to representative Vojtěch Němec (PRO 2016), who abstained from the vote, Šedá has upset mothers who are troubled by the unrepaired sidewalks, while they are indifferent to art.

Šedá has long focused on socially conceived actions, often employing dozens or hundreds of people who have nothing to do with art. She also works in villages and on the periphery, outside of galleries. She has also presented her activities at the Tate Modern gallery in London.

In the Venetian pavilion, she will create the headquarters of a fictional company UNES-CO with a reception, and there will also be a live broadcast from the streets of Krumlov. An annual report for this company will also be created, containing interviews with Krumlov residents and a list of "endangered activities" that locals say have disappeared from the center.