The interest in the new gallery in Liberec is extraordinary

Liberec - The interest in the Regional Gallery in Liberec has been extraordinary after its relocation to the reconstructed former spa. More than 3,500 people visited in the first three days since opening. That's as many as were counted in the original location over a quarter of a year. This was stated to ČTK by the gallery's director, Jan Randáček.
    "It's perfect, but we realize that it was the first weekend when people wanted to see the new spaces. It is up to us to offer exhibitions that will attract them back to us," said Randáček. People might return repeatedly also because it is not possible to visit all the halls in just one or two hours.
    The highest number of visitors came to the building, reconstructed and equipped for 380 million crowns, on Saturday, when over 1,500 people arrived. Today, 1,122 came, and nearly 920 on Friday. "In the old spaces, we never had a turnout of over a thousand. The maximum was about 700 visitors last year when the neighboring castle was exceptionally opened during the European Heritage Days, and people spent the waiting time touring our gallery," reminisced the director.
    "In the Czech Republic, there are galleries that are larger or are beautifully reconstructed, or have unique pieces in their collections. I think somewhat uncritically that our gallery offers all of this together and that in this regard, it is probably the only one in the Czech Republic," declared Randáček.
    The gallery aims to be attractive to both fans of older art and contemporary art. In addition to four permanent exhibitions, it currently offers prints from the time of Emperor Rudolf II, an exhibition on contemporary architecture in Tyrol, and a specially designed exhibition by Jan Mladovský. The first main exhibition is focused on swimming, relating to the previous use of the building constructed on Masaryk Street between 1900 and 1902. The historical building had been empty for years, and the city was looking for a purpose for it. Eventually, the city council agreed with the region to move the gallery that had been operating in the spatially and technically inadequate Neo-Renaissance Liebieg Palace here. The relocation provided the gallery with approximately twice the exhibition space, a depository, and better facilities for employees and the public.
    Starting this week, the gallery will be open daily except for Mondays. Adults will pay 80 crowns for admission, and the gallery will be free on Thursdays. Thursdays will also be the day designated for all openings, guided tours, or lectures. Saturdays will then be dedicated to art workshops for children or courses for adults.