Zaorálek negotiated in Paris about cooperation on cultural projects

Paris - Czech Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek today concluded a two-day visit to France. In Paris, he participated in the UNESCO General Conference, held discussions with his French counterpart Franck Riester, and met today with the president of the Pompidou Center, Serge Lasvigne. This was announced by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture.

"We discussed with the French Minister of Culture how important libraries are for the public space and our participation in the Livre Paris book fair in March 2020. We are both aware that mutual cultural exchange leads to the building of European awareness. That is why I appreciated France's renewed participation in the (exhibition project) Prague Quadrennial," Zaorálek stated according to the press release. He also appreciated the role of the French Institute in Prague and welcomed France's initiative aimed at strengthening the protection of shared cultural heritage in Europe, which was established after the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Subsequently, the Czech Minister met with the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Mechtild Rössler. "We talked about the recent success of the Czech Republic, which has two new entries on the World Heritage list after 16 years, and about our joint efforts to protect the exceptional values of the historical core of Prague. We agreed that we are looking for the best solution for the revolving auditorium in Český Krumlov. I also mentioned our country's role in protecting monuments in Iraq," the minister stated.

At the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference, the minister emphasized the active role of the Czech Republic in the protection of cultural heritage, particularly through the involvement of the National Heritage Institute in the rescue of Iraqi cultural heritage. This includes educational courses for Iraqi specialists related to the restoration and conservation of immovable monuments.

With the president of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Serge Lasvigne, Zaorálek discussed the development of partnerships with the National Gallery today. "I told President Lasvigne today that the situation in the National Gallery is stabilized and cooperation with the museum can thus successfully continue. We agreed that experts from the Centre Pompidou and our people from the National Gallery will start discussing the specific form of a joint project," Zaorálek said.

The Pompidou Center is a cultural center and leading Parisian museum of contemporary art, established in the 1970s at the urging of the then French President Georges Pompidou. The museum's collection is one of the most significant of its kind in the world and includes works by representatives of all important artistic movements and schools of the 20th century.