Representatives of MUO are requesting an explanation from Minister Staňek regarding the dismissal of Soukup

Olomouc - Employees of the Museum of Art in Olomouc are requesting a personal meeting with Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk (ČSSD). They mainly want him to explain the reasons for the dismissal of the museum's director Michal Soukup as well as the subsequent steps affecting the museum. This follows a statement from the employees after their meeting today, informed CTK spokesman of the museum Tomáš Kasal. Staněk has appointed the previous deputy of Soukup, Ondřej Zatloukal, to lead the museum until a selection process is announced.

The statement was supported by all employees of the museum, which has about one hundred people working there. "As employees of the Museum of Art Olomouc, we request that Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk explain to us why he actually dismissed the previous director Michal Soukup. The reasons the minister stated at the briefing on Thursday, April 18, are vague and misleading," states the statement available to CTK.

According to museum representatives, allegedly overpriced land purchases for the construction of the Central European Forum Olomouc, which were one of the minister's arguments, were demonstrably approved several years ago by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance. "Our primary interest is to ensure continuity in the leadership of the museum and collaboration with the Archdiocese of Olomouc. However, a stable leadership of the institution knowledgeable in the subject is a prerequisite. As permanent employees of this institution, we express our support for Ondřej Zatloukal, who has been tasked with its temporary management in both professional and administrative matters," stated the employees.

According to CTK information, museum employees are concerned not only about the upcoming selection process but also about who will sit on the committee that will decide on it. The atmosphere in the museum following Staněk's action is relatively tense. "We are angry, we are in a very combative mood. Thursday's surprising decision by the minister has shaken even some colleagues who had previously approached this issue indifferently. We have no choice but to speak out," said one of the museum staff to CTK today. Museum representatives had previously opposed the minister; four weeks ago, several dozen of them called for his immediate resignation.

Minister of Culture and former Olomouc mayor Staněk also dismissed Jiří Fajt, the director of the National Gallery in Prague, on Thursday, citing doubts about their ability to manage the gallery and museum economically, pointing to the results of inspections in both institutions. However, Soukup immediately rejected any wrongdoing in the museum's management.

Changes in the leadership of the Museum of Art are related to the preparation of the construction of the Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO), for which the government recently allocated 600 million crowns. The Museum of Art has long had a SEFO project prepared by architect Jan Šépka, but the ministry, as the museum's founder, decided on an architectural competition. As a result, the museum must complexly deal with legal obligations.