Museum Kampa will commemorate the 101st birthday of its founder

Prague - On the 101st birthday of art collector Meda Mládková, the Kampa Museum will host a celebration and accompanying program for the public on September 8. It will take place at the Kampa Museum itself, at the nearby Werich Villa, and at the Portheimka Glass Museum in Smíchov, where Mládková played a key role in its establishment. The Kampa Museum, opened in 2003, has been recovering in recent weeks from a fire that struck it in July. It is gradually opening to the public in a provisional mode, and another space will open on the eve of Mládková’s celebration. Jiří Pospíšil, chairman of the board of the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation, said this to the Czech Press Agency.

Due to her age and health, Mládková no longer participates in public life. She lives in the premises of the Sovovy Mlýny, where the museum is located. In mid-July, electrical wiring caught fire in the technical room. The flames did not affect the artistic works, but about two-thirds of the foundation's collection was covered in a greasy ash. Restoration could cost up to two million crowns. The damage to the museum's technical facilities is over ten million crowns.

Part of the museum opened 14 days after the fire. On Monday, September 7, a planned exhibition of painter Olga Karlíková will open, but in a limited scope, as some works still need to be cleaned, Pospíšil said. We have cleaned the depositories, which are being restored. On Friday, we had a meeting with restorers, and we are starting to systematically clean the Kampa Museum collection, he stated.

The costs will be partially covered by insurance, but according to Pospíšil, the museum, like other cultural institutions, is experiencing a decline in visitor numbers, resulting in a lack of income from ticket sales. At the beginning of September, they are noticing a decrease in Czech visitors from outside Prague. They are awaiting potential support from the state, which Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) promised immediately after the fire. "We still don't have that money," he said.

Currently, two-thirds of the museum are accessible, and on Monday, the first floor will join them with the exhibition of painter Olga Karlíková. Pospíšil also noted that the museum is still accessible only provisionally. The city has not yet purchased new air conditioning and new technical facilities, which will cost between ten and 15 million crowns. The museum has mobile air conditioning units. The Sovovy Mlýny buildings belong to Prague, and the Mládek Foundation operates the museum there.

"However, it is impossible not to commemorate the anniversary of Mrs. Meda Mládková's birth, although the celebrations will be more modest due to the circumstances," Pospíšil stated. On Tuesday, September 8, visitors will be guided through the museum's permanent exhibition at 14:00, 15:00, and 16:00; from 14:00 to 16:45, art workshops for children are prepared. At the same time, there will be a program for children at the Werich Villa, where a ceremonial toast in honor of Mládková will take place at 17:00. All programs are free, as is the viewing of the Czech glass exhibition at the Portheimka Villa at 16:30.