The Horácká Gallery wants to gradually renovate the entire second courtyard of the castle

Nové Město na Moravě - The Horácká gallery in Nové Město na Moravě plans to gradually repair the second courtyard of the chateau where it is located. It is working on a vision for the renewal, which includes the reconstruction of the courtyard, the new construction of a painting depository, and the conversion of older buildings into workshops, a library, or a café. The intention should seamlessly follow the construction of a glass and sculpture depository, which began this spring and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Věra Staňková, the director of the Horácká gallery established by the Vysočina Region, told ČTK this.

The gallery is located in the premises of the chateau in Nové Město on Vratislav Square. Approximately half of the building underwent significant renovation in the past and now serves exhibition and cultural purposes. The other operational part is still waiting for repairs. They will draw from the prepared vision developed by the Nové Město architectural studio Maviom Architekti, which follows an earlier architectural study. "According to the proposal, the gallery library should move into the renovated buildings, and new depository and educational spaces, workshops, and a modern restoration workplace should be created. In the building known today as the forge between the first and second courtyards, there are plans to build a café and new restrooms," Staňková said.

A significant change will be the new building located between the administrative building and the glass and sculpture depository. The architects designed it in a simple form contrasting with the surrounding historic buildings. According to the director, especially so that its space can be maximally utilized. It is necessary to accommodate around 1,300 paintings that the gallery has in its collections, and there should also be space for future expansion of the collections.

The currently being built glass and sculpture depository will offer over 400 square meters for the storage of artworks. The gallery has nearly 1,900 sculptures. The depository is being constructed in a former agricultural building on the site of former stables. "The mass of the building and its historic outer walls have been preserved. Necessary injection of existing structures was also carried out and the non-original truss, which was in significantly unsatisfactory technical condition, was removed. A new truss with a milder roof slope was created according to the original historical shape. The attic of the building can thus fully serve the main purpose of this building," said Vysočina Governor Martin Kukla (ANO).

The construction of the depository will be completed in August 2025. This will be followed by the installation of shelves and relocation. "The largest and heaviest items will be concentrated on the ground floor, while the remaining parts will be used for smaller sculptures and other collection items made of glass," Kukla added.

The Horácká gallery is visited by over 11,000 people annually. Until January 12 of next year, they can see an exceptionally extensive exhibition called Cabaret Puppet, which consists of over 200 marionettes from 1800 to 1950 from the private collection of Marie and Pavel Jirášek. Currently, sculptor Tea Smetanová is also exhibiting her works in the gallery. The exhibition titled Half-life will also be accessible until January 12. On Wednesday, November 27, the gallery will open a photography exhibition titled Helping Angels. The author of the photographs is Nové Město photographer Jana Mašterová, who focused her lens on the work of people caring for the long-term ill. The exhibition will be inaugurated by famous Czech photographer Jindřich Štreit.