The Baťa Institute in Zlín will open to the public on the first day of May

Zlín - A part of the renovated Zlín 14/15 Bata Institute will be opened to the public for the first time on May 1st. This was announced by Gabriela Sýkorová Dvorníková, spokesperson for the regional office. The building was created by the reconstruction of two former factory buildings in the Bata industrial complex. It will house the Museum of Southeast Moravia, the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts, and the František Bartoš Regional Library. The renovations of building 15 are nearing completion. The entire project will cost about 900 million CZK, with the region receiving a 500 million CZK grant from the EU.
    People will be able to visit the new permanent exhibition of the regional gallery on the second floor of building 14 titled "Orders of Vision/Space Zlín" and the permanent exhibition of the museum on the third floor named "The Bata Principle/Today Fantasy, Tomorrow Reality" on the first of May.
    "May 1st was celebrated sincerely and joyfully as Labor Day in Bata's Zlín. The Bata company valued its employees as co-creators of a common work. That day was always extraordinary; the public could peek into the factory spaces, a communal lunch was held, and so on. The opening of building 14 of the Bata Institute on this day is symbolic," said governor Stanislav Mišák (ČSSD).
    The first day of operation will be in a special regime. Tickets can be reserved on the institute's website www.14-15.cz. Visitors will have discounted admission that day. Adults will be able to view both exhibitions for 99 crowns, while the regular price will be 199 crowns.
    Building 15, which will house the library, is still being adjusted. It is expected to open in September. Construction work on both buildings began in September 2011.