Opponents of the relocation epic submitted a petition to the Prague city hall

Prague/Moravský Krumlov - Opponents of moving Mucha's Slav Epic from Moravský Krumlov to Prague handed over a petition for the preservation of the canvases in Moravia this evening at the reception office of the Prague city hall. On Thursday morning, the opponents will demonstrate in front of the city hall at Mariánské náměstí and will deliver a copy of the petition to the representatives of Prague. According to the organizers, approximately 3,000 people signed the petition.
The petition has been carried from Moravský Krumlov to Prague by a group of activists since last Friday. One hundred people, primarily students, participated in the relay march, which covered a distance of 310 kilometers.
Another event is scheduled for Thursday, when a demonstration will start in front of the city hall at 08:00 and is expected to last about an hour. Approximately 150 people will arrive from Moravský Krumlov by three buses. The organizers of the demonstration expect that additional supporters will join them.
It is intended to be a peaceful demonstration aimed at highlighting that the Slav Epic is firmly linked to Moravský Krumlov and has its place there, said one of the event's organizers, Vladimír Kuchař. The organizers hope that a point regarding the relocation of the epic to Prague will be included in the agenda of the Prague city council meeting that starts at 09:00. The opposition party TOP 09 wants to push this point into the agenda, but it is unclear if they will succeed.
"This means hope for us that Prague still has a heart and also a bit of sense to understand the opinion of the people. We hope that they do not trample on the dignity of the public by ignoring this whole issue," said one of the students who carried the petition in the last section of the journey from Velká Chuchle to the city center.
Sharp disputes have been underway for months about the future of the epic. The work, consisting of 20 large paintings, was housed for over half a century in the Knight’s Hall of the dilapidated Moravský Krumlov Castle.
The paintings are the property of Prague. Five of them have already been transported away from Moravia. The remainder stays in the castle, which was open to the public until last Sunday.
The epic consists of paintings depicting scenes inspired by Slavic mythology and the history of the Czechs and Moravians. Mucha bequeathed them to Prague; after World War II, they were moved to Moravský Krumlov, which is his homeland. There, the work, which was in very poor condition, was restored and displayed.
The author's wish was for a special pavilion to be created in Prague for the epic, which has not yet happened. The site where the work could be exhibited is not yet known. One possibility is the Art Nouveau Fantová building at Prague's main train station. Opponents of the relocation offer a different option. They believe that the Moravský Krumlov Castle can be repaired, and the exhibition for the epic modernized and expanded.
The town hall already has a project prepared. At the same time, there is a promise from the Ministry of Culture and the South Moravian Region that they will assist with the restoration of the castle. According to the city’s leadership, the transportation of the epic would mean the loss of the only tourist attraction for Moravský Krumlov and the elimination of dozens of jobs.