Volyně wants to complete the funeral hall, the cemetery gallery would disappear

Volyně - The city of Volyně wants to reconstruct the unfinished funeral hall at the cemetery, estimating the costs at ten million crowns. By the end of May, they want to have the project documentation ready, which will cost 300,000 CZK. The city will only complete the hall if it secures a subsidy. They want to restore the building to its original purpose. ČTK was told today by mayor Martin Červený (Independents). The hall currently houses an art gallery, and its curator fears it will end with the reconstruction.

"The funeral hall has long been unfinished and unused. Most councilors see it as the most sensible option to complete the funeral hall for its original purpose," said Červený. The amount for project documentation was approved today by 11 of the 15 present councilors.

The Cemetery Gallery Goodbye, which offers installations related to the theme of death, has been operating in the funeral hall since 2010. Josef Bolf painted on the walls here, and Tomáš Vaněk and other artists have created works here. The gallery curator Jan Freiberg stated that the gallery would end with the reconstruction.

According to the mayor, the gallery could operate after the reconstruction during periods when there are no funeral ceremonies in the hall. "The exhibition cannot be permanent there," said Červený.

The reconstruction would include a side extension with facilities. Inside, there should be a flexible space without a catafalque, and according to the mayor, it would be multifunctional so that the gallery could continue operating.

However, Freiberg argued that the gallery is not exceptional due to the art in the funeral hall, but because of the program. He suggested keeping the hall in its current state, including the gallery, and occasionally holding funerals there. "The essential fact was that the building was empty; it was that communist shell. Once the context changes and it becomes a funeral hall, that emptiness, that potential for inserting current art will suddenly be missing," Freiberg told ČTK.

In Volyně, with a population of 3,000, 28 people died last year. Funeral ceremonies take place in the church and in the funeral halls in Blatná and Strakonice. "The majority of Volyně citizens have negative reactions to the gallery. They find it undignified for the place, and there were times when we had to calm citizens who wanted to file complaints that such things do not belong in a cemetery," said Červený.

The funeral hall was built in the late 1980s. The city never made the building operational; it remained empty until 2010 when the gallery was established.

"We know that 20 funerals won't cover the operation costs. But at least it will be used for the purpose it was built for," said the mayor.

Volyně is budgeting this year with revenues of 76 million and expenditures of 74.6 million. From the surplus, they cover loan repayments. The main investment for 2.5 million will be the repair of social facilities in the kindergarten and primary school.