The rector of AVU has resigned from her position, and four vice-rectors have also resigned.

Prague – The rector of the Academy of Fine Arts (AVU) in Prague, Maria Topolčanská, resigned today. She did so during an extraordinary meeting of the academic senate, which was discussing a proposal for her dismissal. According to the proposal, signed by 17 people from AVU, the rector repeatedly tried to bypass the senate, downplayed problems, and cooperation with her was unsustainable. This follows from the minutes of the senate meeting and the proposal for dismissal. AVU published the documents on its website. Already on Monday, all four vice-rectors resigned. They cited that their visions of management and communication diverged too much from Topolčanská's approach. The 51-year-old rector had led the school since 2022.

According to the minutes, the senate began today to address the proposal for the rector's dismissal. Topolčanská informed the senate that three vice-rectors and one vice-rector resigned on Monday. Subsequently, according to the minutes, she stated that after consideration she was resigning as of today. The senate then resolved to conclude the process of dismissing the rector.

According to the higher education law, the rector is dismissed by the president at the proposal of the academic senate. The proposal for the dismissal of the rector was received by the senate on Tuesday. It was signed by 17 individuals, including students and teachers from AVU. They justified it by a fundamental breach of trust and the impossibility of cooperating in the management of the school. According to them, the management of AVU had repeatedly attempted to circumvent the senate and made decisions contrary to election promises. They mentioned, for example, the cancellation of the preparatory studio without senate approval, a personnel and operational crisis in the study department, or changes in studio enrollments without discussion with students and teachers.

"We believe that the rector systematically refuses to openly and honestly identify the clearly existing problems, while downplaying and obscuring the real state of affairs. This approach creates an atmosphere of distrust in management processes," wrote the proposers. Further cooperation with the rector is, according to them, unsustainable.

Due to differing approaches to communication and management, vice-rectors Jana Bernartová, Vít Havránek, Anetta Mona Chisa, and Šárka Krtková also resigned. They denied that their departure was related to a recent petition that also criticized Topolčanská. "We unequivocally declare that our decision has no connection whatsoever with the petition. We are proud of the quality and results of our school," they stated in a joint announcement.

The petition against Topolčanská criticized her for failing to perform her function and lacking expertise and experience in the field. At the same time, they called for a restructuring of AVU and the National Gallery and changes to the Jindřich Chalupecký Awards. Notable signatories included 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, whom Topolčanská dismissed last year for attempting fraud and unethical behavior, as stated by Topolčanská on Czech Television.

In June, the vice-rectors and the rector told ČTK that the petition mixes substantive issues with personal attacks and disinformation. According to them, the specificity of this generational conflict is that older artists are protesting against the young, which was previously the opposite.

According to the AVU rectorate, all regular activities of the academy remain fully operational and continue uninterrupted. "Students and employees will continue to receive full support necessary for the effective performance of their work and studies. All members of the leadership, including those who have resigned, continue to fulfill their duties until the end of the notice period on December 31, 2024, if necessary, even longer," stated Markéta Strnadová, head of the rectorate office.

Evžen Mrázek remains in the position of AVU bursar. The AVU academic senate is preparing further steps as anticipated by the higher education law and internal regulations of AVU.

The Academy of Fine Arts is the oldest art school in the Czech Republic, established in 1799. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral study programs in the field of fine arts. Students can choose from fields such as painting, sculpture, or drawing and graphics.