The Museum of Art has moved closer to establishing the Central European Forum

"May it not take you long."

Olomouc - The Museum of Art in Olomouc today took another step towards establishing the Central European Forum in Olomouc by signing a declaration of collaboration with its partners. The document is one of the conditions for applying for a grant to establish a unique institution that will collect, study, and make accessible to the public primarily the visual culture of the Central European space, said museum spokesman Petr Bielesz today to ČTK.
    A part of the ceremonial act was also the receipt of the Europa Nostra award, which the museum received for a series of restoration exhibitions about significant monuments from the old art fund in Moravia.
    The Ministry of Culture, Olomouc Region, the city of Olomouc, and Palacký University through their highest representatives pledged to cooperate in the establishment of a cultural venue with the Museum of Art. "The sooner all documents are completed, the sooner it will be possible to apply for the grant and start building. May it not take you long," wished Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch today. Following this will be bilateral agreements between the partners that will specify the scope and possible financial aspects of cooperation. However, they must first be approved by the representatives of the city and Olomouc Region.
    "Currently, we are finalizing the architectural study, which we want to present to the public in October at a short-term exhibition. Then an archaeological survey will follow, and by the end of the year, we must submit a grant application. If everything goes well, the Central European Forum could welcome its first visitors at the end of 2014," Bielesz stated. The project plans to use 500 million crowns from the Integrated Operational Program for the reconstruction of the existing building of the Museum of Art and the construction of a new building nearby.
    Representatives of the Museum of Art also received the Europa Nostra award. The so-called "heritage Oscar" was awarded for a series of five restoration exhibitions focused on the tomb of the Olomouc bishop Leopold Egkh from the Church of St. Maurice in Kroměříž, the altar of the Most Holy Trinity from the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Uničov, Bishop Troyer's carriage, the monstrance of the Golden Sun of Moravia, and the statue of the Crucified from Zašová.
    In the past, projects from the Czech Republic that received the Europa Nostra award included the rescue of the Valdštejn Palace in Prague and the collection of paintings by Master Theodorik at Karlštejn, the restored collection of Francis Ferdinand d'Este at Konopiště Castle, and Český Krumlov for the project of restoring the collections of the castle theater. Last year, the award was again given to Český Krumlov for the project to renovate the state castle and palace.