The state will offer the National House in Vinohrady and the House at Hybernus in Prague for auction

Prague - The state will offer the National House in Vinohrady and the building U Hybernů in a public auction, which were previously owned by the State Cultural Fund and partially funded through their rental. This information was published today by Deník N, and it was confirmed by the Ministry of Culture spokesperson Petra Hrušová. She stated that no contributing organizations showed interest in the buildings, after which they will be transferred to the state Office for the Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM).

The ministry left the inquiry regarding the possible selling price of the houses unanswered. Hrušová mentioned that the sale of the buildings also enables new fund financing, as a result of a media amendment, the State Cultural Fund will receive 25 percent of the revenue from sponsorships on Czech Television. "The estimated revenue is higher than the current income from the rental of the National House in Vinohrady and Hybernia," she added. This year, the fund is working with revenues of about 76 million crowns, with rentals contributing about 33 million crowns.

In addition to the two properties for sale, the fund also manages the Cubist House U Černé Matky Boží in the Old Town. "The ministry considers the revenues from the National House in Vinohrady and Hybernia to be risky in the long term, as significant investment in the reconstruction of the properties would be necessary. The State Cultural Fund does not have such resources," the ministry stated.

In this year's approved budget, the fund indicated an annual revenue from the rental of the building U Hybernů of 15.6 million crowns and for the National House Vinohrady 13.2 million crowns, of which up to 50 percent for the building in Vinohrady is allocated for repairs.

Deník N reported that the building U Hybernů is of interest to Slovak billionaire Milan Fiľo, who has been renting the building long-term.

In this year's approved expenditures, the fund has 60 million crowns to support cultural projects, and the total expenditures of the fund amount to 75.8 million crowns.

The State Cultural Fund was established in 1992 to distribute money from a newly created lottery to support the arts. Due to its launch, the Ministry of Culture seized the House U Černé Matky Boží and the Palace U Hybernů. However, the lottery went bankrupt, and the fund had to repay a loan. Nearly 300 million crowns were paid from the state budget, and the fund was supposed to repay this amount. Over 20 years, it only repaid about 30 million crowns despite owning three buildings in Prague. In 2016, the state wrote off the fund's debts.