The National Gallery could have a permanent director in about a year

Prague - The National Gallery Prague (NGP) could have a full-time director in about a year. Culture Minister Lubomír Zaorálek (CSSD) told reporters today upon arriving for a government meeting. He expects that within half a year, the guarantee council will develop criteria to be applied in selecting a new director. Since the end of September, the gallery has been led by temporary director manager Anne-Marie Nedoma, and it has not had a regular director since the dismissal of the former head Jiří Fajt in April.

Zaorálek stated that he expects a decision on the parameters of the competition within about six months. "The council should first address what tasks we want to give the National Gallery, what we will expect from the director who will be selected," he said. According to him, it is realistic that a permanent director will be appointed in about a year. "The National Gallery will be consolidated and ready for someone to take over," he added.

The guarantee council, which is working on the preparation of the competition and the selection of members of the commission that should choose the new head of NGP, was established by Zaorálek concurrently with Nedoma's appointment. The council includes architect Josef Pleskot, art historian Jiří Machalický, curator Richard Drury, director of the National Heritage Institute Naďa Goryczková, founder of the DOX center Leoš Válka, and director of the National Technical Museum Karel Ksandr.

Art historian Fajt, who led NGP for approximately five years, was dismissed by former culture minister Antonín Staněk (CSSD) due to serious economic mismanagement. This move led to protests from part of the cultural community and initiated considerations about Staněk's resignation. Upon Fajt's dismissal, Staněk assigned economist Ivan Morávek to lead NGP.

Just before Staněk left his position as minister after resigning to President Miloš Zeman, he announced a selection process for Fajt's successor. Zaorálek canceled it upon taking office at the ministry.