Road to the new building of the West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, the exhibition was ceremonially opened by Marcela Krejsová, Deputy Governor of the Plzeň Region, who announced that the Plzeň Region Council had approved the assignment for the implementation of the project study for the realization of a new ZČG building. Vladislav Vilímec, Deputy Governor for Culture and Heritage Care, also commented on the council's decision. Martin Baxa, the Mayor of Plzeň, spoke about the project on the site U Zvonu and summarized the journey to the new building of the West Bohemian Gallery. Roman Musil, the director of the West Bohemian Gallery in Plzeň, in his speech, outlined the benefits that the new building will bring to society, the region, and the city of Plzeň, emphasizing how necessary the construction is for the operation of ZČG. The opening also featured Ivo Grüner, Deputy Governor for Regional Development, EU Funds, and Informatics, Jiří Leščinský, Director of the Plzeň Regional Office, Josef Kuželka, Head of the Department of Culture, Heritage Care, and Tourism in the Plzeň Region, Magda Sýkorová, Director of the IROP Territorial Department for Plzeň Region, Czech-American musician Rudy Linka, and others.
The exhibition showcases the activities of ZČG and highlights the long-term need for a new building for the organization's continued functioning. Individual panels present the West Bohemian Gallery with its key operations essential for any collecting institution. Visitors can learn more about the history of the gallery, its exhibitions, and collections. One of the panels allows viewers to peek into the depositories and the activities of conservators. The educational and program activities of the gallery are also presented.
A part of the exhibition features a presentation of the design for the new ZČG building, developed by architects Ladislav Kuba and Tomáš Pilař. Their project won an award in a public architectural competition in 2009. According to the unanimous agreement of the jury, the winning project represents a quality and modern solution for the West Bohemian Gallery's headquarters in the context of the historic city, on par with similar cultural buildings in the wider European region.
The current spaces of the gallery are inadequate. The vast majority of exhibits, worth nearly two billion crowns, are stored in depositories. "Plzeň has never had a permanent exhibition; this is our debt to the public," says Deputy Governor Marcela Krejsová, adding that the current location of the gallery in Masné krámy is not a gallery space but a market. Roman Musil, Director of the West Bohemian Gallery in Plzeň, stated about the new building: "Every art museum is a complex organism that requires appropriate spaces and facilities that must meet strict museum standards. Our institution has long been rated as one of the best functioning regional galleries of fine art in the Czech Republic, additionally with excellent collections, of which the Czech Cubism collection ranks among the best in the country right after the National Gallery in Prague. On the other hand, we have to deal with several fundamental deficiencies and obstacles arising primarily from the location of our gallery. All its existing buildings on Pražská street are originally medieval houses that are entirely unsuitable for the purposes of a contemporary collecting gallery of fine art. Not only do we lack the spatial capacity to present our most significant works in a permanent exhibition, unlike many institutions in the Czech Republic, but these works are situated in such inadequate conditions that there is a risk of serious damage. For these reasons, the West Bohemian Gallery finally needs a new building that will become a welcoming and open cultural center for Plzeň and provide adequate support for its collections, the public, and ultimately its employees."
The new building will provide the gallery with comprehensive support for all important operations. The design includes exhibition spaces for permanent exhibitions as well as for temporary exhibitions. A separate exhibition for Ladislav Sutnar is also planned. The building is designed to have a central depository that meets the strictest museum standards for storing collections, a conservation workshop, educational spaces for workshops, a multipurpose hall for cultural events, lectures, and concerts, as well as library spaces. A gallery shop and café are planned for the ground floor.
The journey to the current project for the new building began in 2009 when a public architectural competition was announced for the proposal for the new ZČG building. The following year, the Plzeň Region Council approved the announcement of a public contract for the delivery of project documentation. That year, the plan for the realization of the new ZČG building also became part of the project Plzeň – European Capital of Culture 2015. In July 2016, a building permit was issued, which has been extended several times. The construction of the new West Bohemian Gallery building has also appeared in several key strategic documents at both regional and nationwide levels. As a pilot project that should receive state support, it is included in the government's program declaration from 2018.
On Monday, September 21, 2020, the Plzeň Region Council approved the assignment for the completion of the Implementation project documentation for the realization of the project, which is the final step towards announcing a tender for the construction contractor and its subsequent realization.
Currently, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic is preparing a grant investment program to support cultural projects in the regions, from which it would be possible to obtain a proportional share of financial resources for the construction of the new West Bohemian Gallery building in Plzeň.
The exhibition is on display at the U Zvonu site until November 30, 2020.

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