Invitation to a discussion about the new building of the National Library in Prague

National Gallery in Prague / Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art invites you to a substantive and non-hysterical discussion dedicated to the project of the new building of the National Library in Prague, which will take place on Thursday, June 7, 2007, at 2 PM in the auditorium on the 6th floor of the Trade Fair Palace, Dukelských hrdinů 47, Prague 7.

The project for the new National Library building has sparked an almost unprecedented phenomenon in the Czech Republic – a broad discussion about architecture. Unfortunately, however, it has mostly not been a discussion in the true sense of the word, with substantive arguments from various sides, both agreeing and disagreeing. Most expressions regarding the new building project are characterized by emotional outbursts ranging from “it's brilliantly great” to “it's completely wrong.”

Why – that remains a mystery to most of those expressing their opinions. It provokes us. We want to know why opinions are so passionate and so contradictory.

Therefore, we call for a substantive and non-hysterical discussion that will address the library project, primarily focusing on carefully constructed arguments placed beside and against each other.

We invite experts to such a discussion, specifically architects, conservationists, urban planners, theorists, historians, and all others who are already considering how to implement the future library, including builders and economists. We also welcome representatives of the cultural public who are concerned about the fate of Prague.

The discussion will take place with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, architect-authors, and managers of recently constructed new libraries in the Czech Republic, along with Milan Knížák, the General Director of the National Gallery in Prague.

We look forward to meeting you.