The outgoing rector of AVU appointed a pro-rector who can manage AVU in her absence

Prague – The new vice-rector for academic affairs of the Academy of Fine Arts, who is authorized to manage the school by proxy, is Šárka Krtková. She was appointed today by the outgoing rector Maria Topolčanská, as reported by AVU in a press release to ČTK. Topolčanská announced her resignation as rector on Wednesday. However, the resignation is only valid once it is submitted in writing to the Ministry of Education, which has not yet happened, stated Markéta Strnadová, head of the rector's office, today. Krtková was previously the vice-rector for strategic development, and on Monday, she, along with the other vice-rectors, resigned from this position. Following the rector's resignation, AVU will be led until a new rector is appointed.

Topolčanská informed about her resignation at an extraordinary meeting of the AVU Academic Senate on Wednesday, which was discussing a proposal for her dismissal. According to the proposal, which was signed by 17 people from AVU, the rector repeatedly attempted to circumvent the Academic Senate, downplayed problems, and cooperation with her was unsustainable. This is evident from the minutes of the Senate meeting and the proposal for dismissal. On Monday, all four vice-rectors resigned, citing that their visions for management and communication diverged too much from Topolčanská's approach.

"The vice-rector for academic affairs according to the AVU Statute, Article six, paragraph three, is authorized to manage AVU by proxy, in full capacity, until a new rector is appointed," states in today's announcement by Topolčanská on the school's website. The appointment of Krtková as the academic vice-rector was discussed by Topolčanská with the AVU Academic Senate, she stated.

The Academic Senate discussed on Wednesday the admissibility of the proposal for the rector's dismissal due to a fundamental breach of trust and the impossibility of continuing to cooperate effectively in managing the school, further stated representatives of the AVU Academic Senate (AS AVU) in today's announcement sent to ČTK. The Senate approved the admissibility of the proposal and was prepared to discuss it at the next meeting on November 6, as stated in the announcement.

Following the vote, Topolčanská informed the Senate on Wednesday about the resignation of the vice-rectors and her decision to step down. "Although this turn of events seems surprisingly rapid, it is the result of a gradual loss of trust, which has been deepening between the rector of AVU, her vice-rectors, and the AVU Academic Senate," the representatives of the Senate also stated today. Evžen Mrázek remains in the position of AVU bursar. The AVU Academic Senate is also preparing further steps that are anticipated by higher education law and AVU internal regulations, the school announced earlier. "The operation of the school and teaching are not affected by these changes," the representatives of the AVU Academic Senate stated today in their announcement.

The vice-rectors who resigned on Monday denied that their departure was related to a recent petition that also criticized Topolčanská. "We unequivocally declare that our decision has no relation whatsoever to the petition. We are proud of the quality and results of our school," they stated in a joint announcement.

The petition criticized Topolčanská for incompetence and a lack of expertise and experience in the field. At the same time, it called for a restructuring of AVU and the National Gallery and changes in the Jindřich Chalupecký Awards. Among the signatories were former AVU rector Milan Knížák, sculptors Jaroslav Róna and David Černý, director Jan Svěrák, architect Josef Pleskot, artist Michal Rittstein, and writer Jáchym Topol. The text was published by Barbora Šlapetová, the wife of former AVU teacher Lukáš Rittstein, who was dismissed by Topolčanská last year for attempted cheating and unethical behavior, as Topolčanská mentioned on Czech Television.

According to higher education law, the rector is appointed and dismissed by the president at the proposal of the Academic Senate.