Leica Gallery has received half a million for the renovation of its new headquarters

Prague - The Leica Gallery has raised 510,000 crowns from the auction of photographs, which it will use for the reconstruction of its new headquarters in the center of Prague. Jana Bömerová, the director of the gallery, said this today to ČTK. The first exhibition is planned by the gallery, which specializes in significant personalities of Czech and foreign photography, in early May.
    At Wednesday's auction, there were about 150 images on offer from 70 contemporary photographers as well as classics, such as Ladislav Sitenský, Zdeněk Tmej, Antonín Kratochvíl, Sebastião Salgado, Dagmar Hochová, and Robert Vano.
    Leica acquired its headquarters on Školská Street four years after being evicted from premises at Prague Castle. Meanwhile, it organized traveling exhibitions. It intends to continue with its concept, which it applied during exhibitions at Prague Castle. "We want to continue bringing top foreign authors and exhibit those we choose, not those who pay for it," the director stated.
    The first vernissage in the new space is expected to take place in early May. The gallery plans to kick off with an exhibition by photographer Sarah Moon, known for her fashion photography. Leica will present her recent free works. With each foreign photographer, the gallery wants to also introduce a Czech one. Therefore, alongside Moon, it will exhibit works by Czech fashion photographer Jiří Turka.
    The Leica Gallery has been operating in the Highest Purveyor's Office at Prague Castle since spring 2002. Despite the original agreements for long-term cooperation, the Prague Castle Administration did not extend the gallery's lease on the purveyor's office in 2004. Without a permanent venue, Leica has organized three traveling exhibitions on a train that travels across the country since 2005.