The region is preparing modifications and the completion of the Rabas Gallery, the project will be presented to the public

Rakovník – The Central Bohemia Region is preparing modifications and an extension of the Rabas Gallery in Rakovník, the project will be presented to the public on Wednesday. The start date of the reconstruction is unclear. Documentation for the zoning decision has been completed; it depends on the successful discussion of the proposal, said Helena Frintová from the Central Bohemia Regional Authority in response to a query from ČTK today.

"At this moment, it is therefore not possible to say a specific date," Frintová added.

The gallery is situated in a listed building within a protected heritage zone. Its spaces no longer meet the needs and there is also a lack of suitable facilities for visitors. A multifunctional space for educational and social activities and an exhibition area for temporary exhibitions is to be created. The modifications will include, for example, the restoration of damp masonry, repair of networks, ensuring facilities including barrier-free access, and also allowing the public to enter the historical cellars. A study room and a depository should also be added.

The extension will also include a glass section; public opinions on the combination of modern appearance and historical environment vary. The head of the Rakovník Department of Education, Heritage Care, and Culture, Tomáš Kapsa, previously stated that the glass building will be divided so that the structure minimally obscures the historical facade of the gallery. "The neighboring synagogue will not be affected by the construction," he added.

The Rabas Gallery is a contribution organization of the Central Bohemia Region. The public discussion will take place on Wednesday at 4:00 PM at its premises located at Vysoká Street No. 232. The building used to be a Jewish school and is adjacent to the former baroque synagogue, which currently serves as a concert hall. Painter Václav Rabas was born in 1885 in Krušovice near Rakovník and focused on landscape painting, among other things. After World War II, he handed over several of his works to the Rakovník Gallery. He died in 1954 in Prague.