The gallery and philharmonic bid farewell to the Zlín House of Art

Zlín - The Regional Gallery of Fine Arts in Zlín, together with the local Philharmonic, bids farewell to the House of Art in the center of Zlín. The building, designed by architect F. L. Gahura, was constructed in the 1930s as the Tomáš Baťa Memorial. In the 1950s, it was renovated and served as the House of Art for the Zlín Philharmonic and Gallery. However, the conditions in the building have become inadequate in recent years. The history of the building is recalled by the exhibition "From Memorial to Memorial 1933-2013," announced today by the gallery spokesperson Marika Blažková.
     The memorial is expected to regain its original name and form characterized by a reinforced concrete skeleton and stained glass windows. The city aims to place an exhibition focused on the Baťa era in the building, and discussions about its form are ongoing. The Philharmonic has already moved to the new congress center designed by architect Eva Jiřičná. The gallery will be located in the Baťa Institute, which is being created through the renovation of buildings 14 and 15 in the former Baťa factory complex in the center of Zlín.
     Posters and historical photographs will remind visitors of the eighty-year history of the building and the activities of both artistic institutions. The exhibition in the House of Art will be on view until January 31. On that day, not only the gallery staff but also the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic will symbolically say goodbye to the building with a concert in its original premises.