Hanáková appointed Jiří Fajt as the director of the National Gallery

Prague - The Minister of Culture in resignation, Alena Hanáková (STAN), today appointed art historian Jiří Fajt as the new General Director of the National Gallery (NG). This information was provided to ČTK by the ministry spokesperson Lenka Brandtová. Fajt, who currently works at universities in Leipzig and Berlin, will take up the position in September. Future Minister of Culture Jiří Balvín has called the minister's decision, made just before the end of her government, inappropriate and intends to review it upon taking office. Experts also criticize the decision considering the political situation, although they do not question Fajt's qualities.
    Fajt perceives his appointment as professional and non-political. He stated today to ČTK that he is prepared to assume the role from September 1. According to him, his professional qualities and competencies were considered during the appointment.
    This is another controversial step that Hanáková has taken in recent days. On Wednesday, she decided that the building at the corner of Václavské náměstí and Opletalova street will not be protected as a monument, allowing the owner to demolish it.
    "Mr. Fajt has demonstrated that he possesses the prerequisites for leading such an important institution, whether in terms of professional qualifications in the field of art history and visual culture, international reputation, or the ability to think strategically and conceptually," the minister stated.
    Fajt wishes to meet with Balvín and persuade him of his concept. "I would have imagined more favorable circumstances than those we have today. On the other hand, I perceive this as a decision based on professional arguments, not political ones," Fajt said.
    Balvín pointed out that Hanáková originally resigned at the end of June and remained in office only because the entire government is stepping down. "I am surprised if the minister appointed the director of the National Gallery on July 4 without a proper selection process and against the opinion of the expert community. I find it inappropriate. Of course, I will revisit this after taking office next week," Balvín told ČTK. He added that he has nothing against Fajt, but he believes that the NG deserves a proper selection process with representation from the expert community.
    The NG has been without a director since mid-April, when Hanáková dismissed Vladimír Rösel. According to her, he did not demonstrate an understanding of the gallery's mission and was not a guarantee for its development. Hanáková decided not to announce a selection process, opting to choose from candidates from previous competitions for the head of the NG. She was deciding between Fajt and the former director of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, Marek Pokorný.
    By the end of June, members of the Minister of Culture's council had appealed to Hanáková, suggesting that in the current situation, she should not continue with the selection process. Some even resigned, including the director of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague, Magdalena Juříková. Today she told ČTK that it is absurd to make decisions about such an important position while the government is in resignation. She does not question Fajt's qualities. "The situation has changed, and it is necessary to announce a new selection process. It is not about the qualities of the candidates, but about their intentions," she stated.
    Hanáková said today that Fajt must fundamentally transform the National Gallery and "actively and visibly engage in the events on the European museum scene" and regain its reputation. Fajt worked at the NG from 1993 to 2000; since 1995 he led the Collection of Old Art. He left the NG shortly after Milan Knížák took office "to avoid competing with an authoritarian general director." Since then, he has primarily been active in Germany, lecturing at universities in Berlin and Prague.
    The 53-year-old Fajt has previously participated in competitions for the General Director of the NG in 2010 and 2011. In April 2010, the selection committee recommended that he be appointed to lead the NG, but the former minister of the caretaker government, Václav Riedlbauch, left the final decision about Milan Knížák's successor to the next minister, whom he only recommended a trio of finalists. However, former Minister Jiří Besser (TOP 09) announced a new selection process, from which Rösel emerged.
    As an art historian, Fajt specializes in medieval art, and he is the author of numerous publications and articles in domestic and foreign journals, having edited several collections and exhibition catalogs. He has curated several successful exhibitions with international significance.