The director of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague, Juříková, wants to resign in November

Prague - This November, the long-time director of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague (GHMP), Magdalena Juříková, intends to step down. The seventy-year-old Juříková justified her decision today by her age. If the respected personality and expert in the arts and politics does not change her mind, the city hall will announce a selection process for a new director. This was conveyed to ČTK by the councilor for culture, Tomáš Slabihoudek (TOP 09).

Juříková mentioned her departure at a press conference for the new exhibition Expanse: Additions 2012 to 2025. Since 2012, Juříková has been leading GHMP, which has long struggled with problems, as an institution for contemporary art.

When asked by ČTK, the director responded that she would step down in November. "I am of advanced age, so I do not intend to serve another term," she stated. Directors of Prague's contributory organizations typically have a mandate of six years.

If Juříková does not change her mind, the city, according to Slabihoudek, will announce an open selection process for her successor. "A committee will be formed at the city hall to assess potential applicants. But, of course, we are still trying to persuade the director. I believe she is a person in her right place," Slabihoudek said.

According to Juříková, the time has come for a change at the helm of the gallery. "I don’t want to say that whoever comes will have a blueprint of what needs to be done. But they will have the opportunity to develop things. The support from the city hall is still intensifying, and I think they will have a pleasant role at the head of the gallery," she noted.

Juříková studied art history in Brno; she is also a photographer and professionally focuses on 20th-century art, particularly sculpture and photography. Since 2012, GHMP has organized a number of exhibitions of contemporary artists, often at the House at the Stone Bell in Old Town Square. This has included world-famous artists like photographers Tono Stano and Bruce Weber and multi-genre artist Tim Burton. The domestic scene was represented by a showcase of works by photographer Antonín Kratochvíl and artist František Skála, and young contemporary creators have had the opportunity to present their works in collective exhibitions. During Juříková's tenure, GHMP invested significant funds in acquiring works of art from the 1960s to the present. It operates several galleries and manages public sculptures in Prague.