Interest in organizing events at Malostranská Square has 15 institutions

Prague - Fifteen institutions have expressed interest in organizing cultural and social events in Malostranské Square in Prague. The commission has so far assessed nine projects. The first event will be an exhibition of sculptures by students of the Academy of Art (AVU), with further events to follow. CTK was informed today by the Deputy Mayor Petra Kolínská (SZ/Trojkoalice).

Recently, by a decision of Prague, the parking lot was removed from Malostranské Square. This has opened up space for holding meetings, exhibitions, or screenings. However, it should be a non-commercial program. Organizers can submit ideas through a web questionnaire.

Following the AVU exhibition, there will also be a panel exhibition by the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague on the theme of art in public space, a summer cinema of silent films, in September a neighborhood festival "Experience the City Differently," and a meeting for volunteers and volunteer organizations.

Tables and chairs have been added to the square, with 23 tables and 90 chairs available. There are plans to install trash bins and bike racks. "We do not currently plan larger interventions into the appearance of the square and its equipment. This should be part of the implementation of the winning architectural design," Kolínská stated. An expert jury selected the design by architects Martin Hájek, Václav Hájek, and Petr Horský in an international competition in September 2014. The renovation of the square is expected to begin in 2018.

Until the end of the year, operations in the square will run in a trial mode. Subsequently, the city will evaluate the functioning and decide how to further manage the place and what rules to set for it. According to Kolínská, a similar concept will follow for Mariánské and Palachovo Squares and for the lower part of Wenceslas Square.

Some members of parliament who have parked there until now disagreed with the removal of the parking lot from Malostranské Square. Prague will negotiate with the Assembly about alternative parking options.