The extension of the ZUŠ in Ostrov will cost 142.5 million, finishing in the summer of 2028

Ostrov – The completion of the Elementary Art School (ZUŠ) in Ostrov, Karlovy Vary region, will cost 142.5 million crowns excluding VAT. It is expected to begin this fall and end in the summer of 2028. The city hall selected the construction company Swietelsky as the contractor, which offered the lowest price of four submitted bids. The mayor Pavel Čekan (independent, elected by locals) informed journalists about this at a press conference today.

According to the mayor, the construction will be mostly funded from the city budget. Five million crowns were allocated for this year, and in April, the council approved an additional 30 million.

According to Čekan, the work could start in October, after the contract is signed and the site is handed over. The remaining amount will be spread out over the next two budget periods. Ostrov has also received a grant of 13 million from the European Integrated Regional Operational Program.

The city has been preparing the completion of the ZUŠ, which is attended by 800 children from Ostrov and its surroundings in various music, dance, and art disciplines, for several years. Since 2020, nearly nine million has been invested in minor modifications to the existing buildings. The completion project stemmed from consultations with the school's director, Irena Konývková, and her 30 teachers.

It features a multifunctional hall with a capacity of 130 spectators, which will allow not only concerts but also offer space for seminars, workshops, or rehearsals of larger musical ensembles, such as orchestras. Currently, ZUŠ only has a small hall with a capacity of 40 people, including performers. There will also be three specialized classrooms for the literary-dramatic field and two new classrooms for the dance field, measuring 70 and 120 square meters.

The construction will connect two existing buildings and will also be below ground level. The project includes planting new greenery and improving the surrounding area. Since April, the mayor states that work has been ongoing on the relocation of heating, water, sewage, communication cables, and optics.

About 16,000 residents live in Ostrov, making it the fourth-largest city in the Karlovy Vary region. The city has an annual budget of approximately half a billion crowns, with about a third allocated for investments.