The Brno Re:public, which ends today, attracted 170,000 people

Brno - The Re:publika Festival, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia and the 90th anniversary of the exhibition center in Brno, attracted an estimated 170,000 people, according to initial estimates. This was reported to ČTK by the spokesperson for the Tourist Information Center, Adéla Nováková. The festival began on May 26, and today was its last day.

Before the start of the festival, creative director Pavel Anděl told journalists that some expected 200,000 people, and he would not be surprised by half a million. While that many did not arrive, the area was still lively even on the last weekend. On Saturday, people stayed there until late in the evening, enjoying a concert by Anna K., watching a light show on the exhibition center's tower, and then a fireworks display over Špilberk.

The festival area was accessible for free. However, those interested in the exhibition of the Slavic Epic and posters by Alphonse Mucha had to pay an entrance fee. Including today, it has been seen by 25,000 people. In the last two weeks, it has generally been sold out, not just on weekends but also on weekdays, said Jiří Smetana from Veletrhy Brno to ČTK.

A selection of Mucha's works will remain at the exhibition center until the end of the year. However, the basic entrance fee will increase from the current 150 to 250 crowns.

Overall, the Re:publika festival offered not only various themed exhibitions and sports activities but also 85 concerts, 73 theater performances and stand-up acts, a hundred films, and over 50 discussions, debates, and author readings. National ballets from the countries of the former Austria-Hungary also showcased their art.

Re:publika had a budget of 128 million crowns. However, not everyone was pleased with the use of the funds. For example, the Brno+ movement around former Deputy Mayor Robert Kotzian stated that the exhibition insufficiently commemorated Czechoslovak history and seemed more like a "hipster entertainment." "We overall evaluate the Re:publika exhibition as poorly managed and weak," Kotzian stated in a press release.

During the last festival weekend, Re:publika also featured an event by social artist Kateřina Šedá, aimed at helping lonely people establish new relationships. "The largest Czechoslovak date" had a budget of over four million crowns.

Šedá expected that up to 1918 people might attend. As of Saturday, 650 were confirmed, she told journalists, and according to estimates by ČTK, even fewer actually arrived. Nevertheless, she was satisfied with the event's progress. "It's an incredible experience to see so many couples and groups leaving the event," Šedá wrote today on Facebook.

The event by this artist was criticized by the radical right-wing movement Slušní lidé, which stated on Facebook that it wanted to file a criminal complaint due to doubts about the economy of the "date." However, on Sunday, the movement retracted the post from the social network.

An important part of Re:publika was also a zone with sports activities. Organizers reported that a new variant of handball for two four-member teams, suitable for older players, was even created there. The sport is named after the place of its creation, which is re:publika.