Brno begins necessary repairs of the dilapidated prison on Cejl

Brno - Brno is starting the most necessary repairs of the deteriorating building of the former prison on Cejl Street for 5.5 million crowns. The mayor's deputy Matěj Hollan (Žít Brno) said this to journalists today. The restoration work will focus on the leaky roof, parts of the trusses, and the entrance from Bratislavská Street. A structural-historical survey will also be conducted. After the initial repairs, one-time events could be held inside, and in the future, the city wants to create a Creative Center in the prison for meetings of artists and creators with studios, exhibition spaces, and historical exhibitions.

The restoration work aims to improve safety within the building. "As a result, it could be temporarily accessible for various selected events. Starting today marks the beginning of work to save the roofs and trusses so that they do not collapse and water does not leak into the building. In some places, the ceilings have collapsed, and water reaches the floor. In this phase, electricity will also be installed," Hollan stated.

The necessary work is also approved by the National Heritage Institute, which demands that the prison be declared a cultural monument. The institute has already submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, which will decide whether or not to declare the building a monument. The city is concerned that declaring it a monument could complicate the building's rescue and increase the costs of creating the center. Therefore, in January, Hollan and Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) met with the Brno director of the institute, Zdeněk Vácha, to clarify the situation and take joint steps towards saving the dilapidated building. Vácha stated that the institute does not consider the planned use of the building for the Creative Center to be conflicting.

According to Hollan, in the future, the demolition of some partitions is planned to enlarge the rooms for lectures and exhibitions. "We will wait with this decision. Currently, we are dealing with the structural-historical survey. It will take some time to select a suitable applicant who will investigate for about two months and then give us a final report regarding heritage protection," said Hollan. The survey could begin in the spring. It could also suggest how much the creation of the center will cost. The city wants to use grants for it.

The prison was built in the 70s of the 18th century. It began serving its purpose in 1784. The poet Petr Bezruč was held in the prison, and Oskar Judex, the mayor of Brno during the occupation, died there in 1953. The prison ceased its function in 1956, when it was replaced by a new prison in Bohunice. Later, it served as an orphanage, among other uses. According to the project coordinator for the Creative Center, Tereza Chrástová, the building has been empty for about ten years.