The representatives of the Wannieck gallery do not agree with the agreement, they will close in April

Brno - Representatives of the Wannieck gallery do not like the amendment to the lease agreement proposed by the municipal company Jižní centrum, and have decided to start vacating the premises from April. Jižní centrum offered the gallery the option to stay in the former factory until November, with the condition that they would have the last two months to clear the space. According to the gallery's donor Miroslav Lekeš, this would only mean postponing the issue. Lekeš wants to continue negotiations with Jižní centrum, but in the meantime, the gallery will close from April 2.
     Problems for the gallery began at the end of February when the municipal company terminated the contract due to non-payment of rent and a debt of nearly 500,000 crowns. The gallery paid off the debt the next day and has since been negotiating with the landlord about the future of the former Vaňkovka machine factory building as well as about the largest collection of contemporary art in the region. At a meeting of the board of Jižní centrum, it was decided that the gallery could stay until November, which allows for further negotiations. However, they must pay in advance for the rent of more than one million crowns by this Friday.
     "We cannot agree to the sent amendment, as it only postpones the termination and eviction by a few months. Moreover, the amendment cannot be changed and was drawn up without our comments," said Lekeš. "Unfortunately, from April 2, 2013, we automatically enter the gallery eviction regime, which we must accept, therefore we must close it, which, in the case of the reluctance of the representatives of Jižní centrum, a.s., may indeed be forever," he added.
     Mayor of Brno Roman Onderka (ČSSD) told journalists again today that in the event of the departure of the Wannieck gallery, the machine factory premises will once again serve culture. "Mr. Lekeš has received at least nine warnings from Jižní centrum that he needs to pay his rent. Therefore, I consider the procedure with the termination of the contract to be correct," noted the mayor. Representatives of the gallery have previously stated that with their departure, the Wannieck gallery will probably come to an end. They do not want to lend their collection to anyone, nor do they wish to move to other premises.