The Alšova South Bohemian Gallery has a new depository worth 28 million CZK

České Budějovice - The Alš Gallery of South Bohemia (AJG) in České Budějovice today ceremonially opened the renovated building Sparta, which will house the main depository. The work lasted more than a year, with 85 percent of the costs, exceeding 28 million CZK, covered by European funding from IROP. There will also be a restoration workshop focused on paper, research rooms, and a studio for families with children, which AJG will open in September 2020. This was stated today by AJG director Aleš Seifert to reporters.

The two-story building from the second half of the 20th century originally served as a restaurant and recently as a vocational training center. The building was in near-collapsing condition. The depository can now hold up to 18,000 items.

"The condition (of the building) is absolutely fantastic and provides a space for adequate work with collection items. It will also have a significant impact on the leisure activities of the citizens of České Budějovice," said Seifert. In response to a query from ČTK, he added that the gallery will store all graphics, drawings, 2,000 paintings, and 1,000 sculptures here.

AJG is currently storing collection items in inadequate facilities, primarily in Hluboká nad Vltavou. The collections are still expanding, with 2.2 million CZK spent on acquisitions last year, and the capacity of the depositories is already insufficient. "The collection items are crammed in here," stated AJG production assistant Ondřej Bezouška. According to him, it is difficult to handle items in the current depositories.

A lecture center will also be in Sparta, which will start operating in September 2020. The Alšovka Studio will relocate here from Otakarova Street, expanding programs. A multifunctional hall will be created, especially for professionals. "We have a luxurious environment for creating ceramic, painting, and graphic workshops here. The location is fantastic, great transport accessibility, the studio will operate until eight in the evening, catering to ages from the youngest to seniors," Seifert told ČTK.

AJG is also renovating two other spaces. The Wortner House in České Budějovice, where it holds exhibitions, will open in spring 2020, with costs estimated at 25 to 30 million CZK. In Bechyně, a former service house will be transformed into a ceramics museum for 32 million CZK. According to Seifert, it is expected to open in September 2021.

The Alš Gallery of South Bohemia was established in 1953, and its collections, which include over 18,100 items, are adorned with works from the Gothic period and the 1960s. It is established by the South Bohemia Region, which provided it with a subsidy of 37.8 million CZK this year. In 2018, the gallery was visited by 56,341 people, as stated in the annual report.