Prague's Art Scene Struggles with Post-Communist Transition and Institutional Dysfunction
Ten years after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, chaos and corruption plague Prague's art institutions, despite efforts at urban renewal. The City Gallery Prague, under the leadership of Olga Mala and Karel Srp, manages five venues that feature international artists such as Diane Arbus and Andreas Serrano, along with marginalized Czech modern art. Conversely, the National Gallery, led by Milan Knizak since 1999, is criticized for self-curation and financial issues. Other institutions like The Czech Museum of Fine Art and Galerie Manes are also struggling. While commercial galleries such as Gandy Gallery and Jiri Svestka Gallery face difficulties, eleven auction houses dominate the Czech Modern Art scene. Alternative venues like Universal NoD and The Meat Factory promote collaboration, as the Czech art community looks forward to EU membership in 2004 amidst challenges like corruption and low wages.
Key facts
- The City Gallery Prague is the finest state-funded art institution, led by curators Olga Mala and Karel Srp.
- National Gallery director Milan Knizak, appointed in 1999, purchases his own artworks with institutional funds and faces demands for removal.
- Veletrzni palac (Trade Fair Palace) has had three directors since its 1990s refurbishment and carries outstanding debts.
- Galerie Manes is managed by a twenty-year-old amateur swimmer without fine art background.
- Average monthly salary for professionals like professors and curators is US$300 after taxes.
- Eleven auction houses operate in the Czech Republic, focusing on Czech Modern Art with limited contemporary market.
- Two alternative art centers, Nadrazi and The Meat Factory, are planned to open in 2002-3 with free admission.
- Umelec magazine, founded in 1997, publishes separate Czech and English editions distributed worldwide.
Entities
Artists
- Andreas Serrano
- Dinos Chapman
- Jake Chapman
- Sam Taylor-Wood
- Magdalena Jetelova
- Diane Arbus
- Toyen
- Milan Knizak
- Frantisek Kupka
- Josef Sima
- Bohumil Kubista
- Petrus Paulus Rubens
- Peter Brandl
- Albrecht Durer
- Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
- Katerina Vincourova
- Jiri Prihoda
- Polak-Jasansky
- Jiri David
- Petr Nikl
- Tomas Cisarovsky
- Alena Kotzmannova
- David Cerny
Institutions
- City Gallery Prague
- National Gallery
- The Czech Museum of Fine Art
- Galerie Manes
- Galerie Rudolfinum
- Obecni Dum
- Gandy Gallery
- Jiri Svestka Gallery
- Galerie Behemot
- Galerie MXM
- Galerie Vaclava Spaly
- Galerie Tvrdohlavi
- Forum 9.11
- Universal NoD
- Divus
- Bubec
- Umelec
- Kunstverein
- Dvorak Concert Hall
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Europe
- Vienna
- Austria
- Germany
- United States
- Holesovice
- Old Town
- Mala Strana
- Vaclav Square
- Prague 1