Hradec Králové Region received a grant of 55 million CZK for the repair of Vrbenské Barracks

Hradec Králové - The Hradec Králové Region has received a grant from the National Recovery Plan (NPO) amounting to 55 million crowns for the reconstruction of the Vrbenské barracks in the center of Hradec Králové, which have been owned by the region since last year. The funds will be used for construction modifications and equipping the spaces of the future cultural and creative center that will be created in part of the former military facility. ČTK was informed about this today by the spokesperson for the region, Martina Svatoňová. The estimated costs for the repair of the barracks, including equipment, are now around 750 million crowns. The region intends to cover about 80 percent of eligible costs from grants.

"This call from the NPO is just one of several financial sources that should cover the overall transformation of this building. We also aim to secure a substantial part of the funds for this investment from other European programs. In the Vrbenské barracks, we want to build a culturally creative center that will be exceptional," said the Deputy Governor for culture, heritage care, tourism, and social affairs, Martina Berdychová (Východočeši).

The region aims to obtain funds for the restoration of the barracks from four other financial sources as well. It will apply for them in two calls of the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP). "The region already applied for the first part of 25.8 million crowns last October, and these funds should cover the establishment of an archaeological exhibition," Svatoňová stated.

The region will apply for another part of the funds from the IROP in the spring, totaling almost 180 million crowns. "We want to secure the largest part of the financial support from the NPO call intended for the revitalization of brownfields. We are preparing the application. From this source, we could obtain funds primarily for the energy-efficient revitalization of the facility," Berdychová added.

The creative center in the Vrbenské barracks will be designated not only for experts but also for the public through exhibitions, educational and experiential courses, workshops, and similar events. It will operate under the management and expert guidance of the East Bohemian Museum in Hradec Králové.

The region wants to convert the Vrbenské barracks into a museum and cultural center, which should also include research rooms, natural science exhibitions, lecture halls, and an environment for educating children from primary and secondary schools. The museum plans to present the fortress history of the city there. The project has obtained a valid building permit.

Until last year, the Vrbenské barracks were owned by the city of Hradec Králové, and the region had the building under lease in connection with the planned project. According to the regional authorities, resolving the property transfer was one of the key conditions for obtaining grants from European funds.

The region recently completed the reconstruction of the Gayer barracks in the center of the hundred-thousand-strong city at a cost of 310 million crowns, where the repository of the East Bohemian Museum is located. The Gayer and Vrbenské barracks are approximately the same size and are situated mirror-like opposite each other in the area. The Vrbenské barracks were established in the 19th century and have been unused since the 1990s. The Hradec Králové city hall is also preparing investments in the area, specifically to modify public spaces to better suit the arrangement of cultural events.