A year has passed since the announcement of the unsuccessful competition for the head of the NG

Prague - Today marks a year since the then Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch announced a selection procedure for a new director of the National Gallery. Its current head, Milan Knížák, who has been leading the gallery since 1999, was originally supposed to be out of the picture this year. However, his successor was ultimately not appointed. The competition has been shrouded in uncertainty from the start, with the ministry refusing to confirm even the list of candidates.
The competition for the director of the NG took place on April 14, 2010, and Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch only officially commented on it for the first time on June 3, when he stated that he would not select a new director. He left the decision to his successor, to whom he recommended three participants in the competition, even though the international selection committee chose art historian Jiří Fajt.
The new Minister of Culture Jiří Besser (from TOP 09) preferred to cancel the entire strange selection process. Besser announced a new competition ten days ago.
Knížák is most likely not to apply for it, despite having participated last year's competition. It can be assumed that even if he were interested in the position, Besser would not appoint him again. "I informed Mr. Knížák that we would announce a new selection procedure and that I would be very pleased if he did not apply," Besser stated in today's edition of MfDnes. He reportedly already fulfilled his historical role in the gallery.
According to the schedule published by the ministry, Knížák's successor should be appointed to the head of the NG by June 1, 2011. However, Knížák will remain the general director until the end of August. Between June 1 and August 31, Knížák and his successor should pass on the agenda.
According to Besser, it will be better that way than if Knížák were dismissed earlier. "I can't imagine what the handover of the gallery would look like; Mr. Knížák is indeed a strong personality and would have made life very uncomfortable for his successor," added Besser.
Interested parties for the leadership of the National Gallery can apply to the ministry until March 11. Just like last year, the economist Vladimír Rösel, who Riedlbauch recommended to his successor as one of the three candidates, will surely apply for the selection process. Rösel told ČTK that he is still interested in leading the gallery and can offer primarily his management experience.
The other two recommended candidates were the director of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, Marek Pokorný, and art historian Jiří Fajt. Pokorný recently told ČTK that he is considering applying but is not decided. Fajt reacted similarly. "I will be interested, among other things, in the conclusions of the ministerial gallery commission that dealt with the strategic development of the Prague National Gallery," Fajt told ČTK. It was Fajt who was recommended by the international selection committee last year.
Milan Knížák has long been criticized for his style of leading the National Gallery by many artists and art theorists. According to some, Knížák has isolated the NG, and it has also been pointed out that he allegedly prioritizes the establishment of permanent exhibitions at the expense of organizing significant temporary exhibitions.