The competition for the new head of the National Gallery, according to Klempír, should be by the end of August

Prague - Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (for Motorists) today justified the dismissal of the director of the National Gallery in Prague (NGP), Alicja Knastová, and the temporary appointment of the director of the old art collection, Olga Kotková, by the certain stiffness of NGP and its leadership. The Ministry of Culture aims to have a selection process for a new head of the gallery by the end of the summer holidays, with the name potentially being known in September. Klempíř stated this to ČTK and Czech Radio Vltava during today's opening of NGP exhibitions.

Earlier, Klempíř cited a different direction for the gallery as the reason for Knastová's dismissal. Today, he reiterated that Knastová initially stabilized the gallery, but later failed to present something that would "catapult it back to the top position in Central Europe, in Prague."

Klempíř considers Kotková, who will lead NGP until a new director is selected, as an experienced manager. Kotková stated today that she will follow her personal motto "As best as I can," which she adopted from the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck. She is still unsure whether she will apply for the selection process for the new head of NGP, but she will continue to lead the old art collection.

According to Kotková, NGP has a team that works with full commitment. She personally wishes for more exhibitions and, together with her colleagues, has adjusted this year's gallery plans. "There must be more exhibitions for our public, and they must also look somewhat appealing," she said. However, she believes that the gallery should not organize exhibitions as ostentatiously and luxuriously as it has so far, but more modestly and intuitively, which could also help save costs. "But believe me, there isn’t much left to save here," Kotková stated.

In January, Knastová mentioned that NGP could invest around 54 million crowns in exhibitions this year from its approximately half-billion crown budget, while before the pandemic it was 110 million crowns.

Kotková wants to focus on exhibitions of contemporary and modern art, with the first of the projects potentially being before the end of this year. She plans to announce the details later.

Klempíř envisions the future gallery as a pulsating cultural center where people come to think. According to him, the gallery should host internationally respected exhibitions and be a space for Czech artists with open doors to the world. At today's press conference, he also promised that he is prepared to provide the institution with whatever he can.

Kotková also mentioned today that a reminder of Ukraine should remain on the facade of the Trade Fair Palace. "I did not receive any instruction to take down the Ukrainian flag. The instruction I received was that the Czech flag should be in a hierarchically higher position," Kotková said.

NGP is celebrating the 230th anniversary of its predecessor, the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art, this year.