Wannieck gallery in Brno has a new contract and will reopen on May 2

Brno - One of the largest collections and contemporary art galleries in the Czech Republic, Wannieck gallery, will continue to operate in Brno. After several months of negotiations regarding rent and overall operation, representatives of the gallery and the city company Jižní centrum came to an agreement. Jižní centrum leases the spaces of the former engineering workshop of the Vaňkovka factory to Wannieck gallery. Both parties signed an indefinite contract today with a notice period of 12 months. Gallery representatives had to pay a deposit equal to one year's rent. The gallery's PR manager Ivana Šalbabová informed ČTK about this.
    According to her, the gallery will reopen to the public on May 2nd. The rent remains at 150,000 crowns per month according to a previous statement by gallery director Petra Lekešová. Wannieck received a notice of termination of the contract in February due to unpaid rent, owing the city nearly 500,000 crowns. The gallery management paid off the debt and requested the withdrawal of the termination the next day. However, Jižní centrum did not agree.
    Since then, long negotiations have been held about future cooperation, and the possibility of relocating Wannieck gallery and leasing the space of the former engineering workshop to someone else was considered. "Ultimately, we are pleased that the gallery can be reopened. We will see how the new contract affects the operation of the gallery in terms of technical or economic aspects. If necessary, we will certainly negotiate on individual points," said the gallery donor Miroslav Lekeš.
    According to the contract, Wannieck gallery will also have to allow the use of the space for concerts by the Brno Philharmonic at a reduced rent and newly organize transport and parking on the premises. The gallery was closed throughout April, and the collections were prepared for relocation. It will reopen on Thursday. Visitors will be able to see the exhibition by Tomáš Císařovský and Erika Bornová until the end of May.
    The city company Jižní centrum leases approximately 3,000 square meters of space in a reconstructed factory hall to Wannieck gallery. In addition to exhibitions, there are concerts by the Brno Philharmonic and various social events.