The situation is unsustainable, says the head of NPÚ about the financing of monuments

Konopiště (Benešovsko) - There is less and less money for the operation of monuments; the current situation is long-term unsustainable, says Naděžda Goryczková, the general director of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). According to her, state funding is being cut every year, and revenues from admissions cannot be indefinitely increased. Goryczková stated this today at a press conference at Konopiště Castle to mark the start of the new visitor season. The Czech News Agency is seeking a response from the Ministry of Culture.
     NPÚ manages a hundred Czech castles and chateaus, and revenues from admissions, along with rentals, form a significant part of the institution's budget. However, the state contribution is fundamental for the caretakers of the monuments.
     "This year, we received 609 million from the state for operations, of which 410 million covers employee salaries, so actually, there are only 200 million left for operational costs. And that is extremely little when you consider everything we manage and how properly we should take care of it," noted the director.
     She reminded that out of the basic budget, which now amounts to over 1.25 billion crowns, 88 percent goes to mandatory expenses. "Thus, only 12 percent is for restoration and maintenance. And this 12 percent is continuously shrinking due to cuts in funding," she warned. According to her, NPÚ is trying to increase this share from revenues, but that cannot go on indefinitely. The institute's budget is currently covered by revenues at a rate of 45 percent. "We actually have to earn almost half a billion for our operations," stated Goryczková.
     The operation of monuments is only being maintained thanks to the efforts of the castle administrators. "The situation is unsustainable in the future, and we feel that we are currently at the very edge of the budget, which is based on the contribution and revenues that we know can no longer be increased and that the capacities of the National Heritage Institute are almost fully exhausted at this moment," asserts the director.
     The administrators also do not hide that their options are significantly limited this year. "This is the worst in ten years. Yesterday, I wanted to throw the keys into the snow, close it, and not let anyone in," complained the castle administrator of Křivoklát, Luděk Frencl. According to him, the castle has to help itself in other ways, such as renting spaces to filmmakers. This way, the turnover can be improved by up to 30 percent. However, not every monument is interesting for filmmakers. For example, one of the most famous castles, Karlštejn, hasn’t seen many filmmakers since the filming of the legendary musical Night at Karlštejn. "Unfortunately, Karlštejn usually does not fit into the concepts of filmmakers because it is very easily identifiable," noted the deputy castle administrator, Lukáš Kunst.
     According to Goryczková, the monuments are trying to increase revenues with new events and attract as many visitors as possible. Last year's revenues were 2 percent lower than in 2011, which the director considers a success because expectations were much worse. "Paradoxically, the crisis has not noticeably affected us so far; visitors still manage to find their way to us," she remarked.
     This year, NPÚ is preparing a number of traditional and new events at its monuments, with the main theme being the so-called Year of French Culture. Miloš Kadlec from NPÚ reminded that the French lifestyle, particularly since the time of Louis XIV, greatly influenced the nobility in the Czech lands, and French nobles also came to Bohemia. Attention will be paid, for example, to the Rohan family, with accompanying events and expert conferences planned at Sychrov Castle. This year, ticket prices for castles and chateaus will not be increased, with some exceptions.