The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec is set for extensive modernization

photo: North Bohemian Museum in Liberec

Liberec - The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec is set to undergo extensive modernization. The Liberec Region was successful in obtaining a grant from the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP). For the project, estimated at around one hundred million crowns, almost 90 percent has been promised from European funds. Work is expected to start in spring 2018, said Blanka Daníčková, spokesperson for the regional office, to ČTK today. The museum will remain closed to the public for one and a half years due to the renovations, and is expected to reopen in the autumn of 2019. Already two years ago, the museum was closed for five months for repairs.

According to the museum's director Jiří Křížek, it is not possible to carry out demanding modifications while in operation, but he would like to keep the lookout tower open for visitors. "I can't imagine visitors moving around the construction site; it will also be challenging for the staff," the director told ČTK. The reconstruction will not only affect the facilities for visitors but will also involve a complete renewal of the electrical installations. Some exhibition areas will be renovated, and some offices will be transformed into storage rooms that visitors will also have access to.

The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec was built at the end of the 19th century, which is reflected in its structural technical condition. "It is a beautiful building, but it needs new engineering networks and we want to install air conditioning. In winter, visitors have to wear coats here, and in summer it gets very hot, which is not good for the visitors or the exhibits," Křížek said. Furthermore, there are several barriers in the building - even the individual floors are divided by stairs at different levels. The biggest drawback is the monumental entrance staircase. Next to it, there should be an outdoor elevator that will allow access to the museum for the disabled or mothers with strollers.

The modernization of the museum is a long-prepared project being implemented in stages. According to Křížek, a complete modernization was originally planned for about 280 million crowns, which included the reconstruction of facilities for staff and storage areas. However, the amount of money from European funds is limited, so the museum had to reduce its plans. "Now I will start preparing the next phase; the staff also deserve better conditions," noted the director.

The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec was established in 1873 as an arts and crafts museum and is the oldest museum of its kind in the Czech lands. Its storage areas hold over 700,000 collection items. It has a rich library and three collection departments - natural sciences, history, and art history. Currently, it features four permanent exhibitions dedicated to applied arts, the nature of the Liberec region, mechanical musical automata, and artistic posters. The fifth exhibition is the park that surrounds the historical building. During the reconstruction, Křížek would like to set up a panel exhibition in it.