Cultural newsletter of the Brno Department of Culture for May 2023

Cultural newsletter of the Brno Department of Culture for May 2023

The Brno Cultural Newsletter brings you an overview of events and opportunities in the coming period concerning theatres, clubs, festivals, and cultural events in Brno. 

Dear fans of Brno culture, 

Brno will distribute a total of CZK 36 million this year to cultural organisations not established by the city. The 350 applications received confirm the importance of this financial support, whether it concerns projects in the field of theatre, music, literature, or folklore. The questionnaire survey, which again mapped the applicants’ experiences, showed that they are mostly quite satisfied with the established subsidy system and that they also appreciate the cooperation of the Department of Culture of the City of Brno, for which its staff deserves great thanks. 

The prepared materials discuss the new water feature in front of the New Town Hall, the installation of which will begin soon. The winning design by Tomáš Pavlacký and Michael Gabriel drew mixed reactions immediately after the results of the architectural and artistic competition were announced two years ago. The topic of discussion on social networks and in the media will therefore probably be addressed over the summer “cucumber season” until its final unveiling this autumn. Perhaps every artifact that has appeared in the public space in recent years has its detractors and enthusiasts. And since art is supposed to evoke emotions, I actually consider this to be a good thing, and I am very curious to hear the reactions of Brno residents. Enjoy the beginning of spring. 

Markéta Vaňková
Mayor of Brno

FROM US TO YOU

Applicants for subsidies in culture evaluated the subsidy system of the Brno City Department of Culture

In February 2023, there was an opportunity to fill in a questionnaire prepared by the Concept and Development Department of the Brno Department of Culture part of the regular evaluation of the subsidy system enshrined in the Strategy for Culture and Creative Industries. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 43 questions and focused on the new investment subsidy programme, which was launched on a pilot basis in 2022. The questionnaire was answered by applicants with the most recent experience with the current system of subsidy allocation. 

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Connecting culture and health at the conference in Elefsina

In the first half of June, Brno will take part in an international meeting in Elefsina, Greece, under the auspices of the Culture Action Europe network, which brings together cultural actors, artists, activists, academics, and political representatives. The conference Handle with Care | Culture for Social Well-being will present the knowledge and experience of cultural actors across the EU whose activities combine culture and care for mental and physical health. The role of culture in improving physical health and mental well-being will be the topic of discussion. 

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Subsidies in culture: Evaluation committees are again complete

The councillors appointed internal expert members of the committees for the evaluation of applications for grants in the field of culture. They were selected from among the members of the RMB Cultural Committee or on the basis of its recommendation. These evaluation committee members are appointed until 2026, the end of the current term of office. 

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Installation of a water feature on Dominican Square 

At the end of May, the installation of the water feature, which was the result of an architectural and artistic competition, will be launched on Dominican Square. The authors of the winning design are Tomáš Pavlacký and Michael Gabriel. The square will feature three unevenly sized flattened cones from which water will gush out in varying intensities throughout the summer, ranging from a spray of mist to a larger stream of water. The artistic vision is based on the treatment of the pipes in infinite perspective. The work is expected to be unveiled this fall. 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

Open House Brno will also present the Brno Creative Centre 

The Open House Brno Architecture Festival is fast approaching. On 13 and 14 May, the gates of otherwise inaccessible places will open in the city. Visitors can also discover the premises of the future centre for local creators, which will be built in the former prison in Zábrdovice. Come and see how the long-neglected site will be transformed, allowing not only free creation but also becoming a place of memory commemorating the suffering of prisoners. 

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Creative vouchers – call for proposals
The Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic has announced a new call. Its aim is to help SMEs by connecting them with emerging creative sectors to adapt to the changes brought about by the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. At least 3000 creative vouchers are planned to be distributed to SMEs in the period 2023-2025 to support “soft” innovations such as product design, marketing, web development, etc. 

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Bounce#3 – a call for circus artists

Bounce is a training programme for circus and outdoor artists who want help creating and completing a project. The programme provides the tools, contacts, knowledge, resources, and space to explore creative, relational and economic potential. 

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EVENTS IN BRNO

From 25 May, the Jurkovič Villa will come alive with a new exhibition, Jakub Berdych Karpelis Samosebou, which will present Karpelis’ conceptual work in dialogue with Jurkovič’s work. 

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The National Theatre in Brno cordially invites you to the Balanchine Ballet – a dance event of significance that goes beyond European borders. This will be a great neoclassical spectacle! 

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Legendary Japanese proto-metal band BORIS will visit the MÚZ Cabinet on 25 May with their compatriots ASUNOJOKEI. Noise-rockers OR will join from the domestic scene. 

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At the beginning of May, the exhibition LOVE RHYMES WITH FUCK YOU by artist Jan Bražina was presented in the TIC gallery. The exhibition will be open until 10 June 2023. 

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From 13 to 27 May, Brno will become the centre of the theatre world for the 14th time. The international festival Theatre World Brno will prepare for the audience more than 70 performances and other various events which are not otherwise possible to experience in Brno. 

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HaDivadlo and Terén invite you to the annual interdisciplinary event – HOUSE OF CULTURE, which this year takes place on 10 June 2023. A one-day participatory event offering a series of workshops, lectures, and artistic interventions on different aspects of the end of the Dornych Shopping Centre, which is slated for demolition. 

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A spectacular Wild West Show full of cowboys, gunslingers and Indians entices twelve-year-old Bořek to escape to the Wild West. The Divadlo Radost theatre company invites you to the premiere of a new production of Buffalo Bill, Once Upon a Time in Moravia in the Summer of 1906. 

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The Brno City Museum is preparing a unique exhibition project; this is an exhibition dedicated to Queen Elizabeth Richeza of Poland and missing Gothic manuscripts which will be on display in the Czech Republic for the first time in 240 years. The exhibition can be visited from 1 June 2023. 

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On the night of 20 May, Brno’s museums and galleries will come alive again. As every year, the Brno House of Arts will be part of the Brno Museum Night programme. The programme will start with a special tour on the theme of 110 years at the House of Art. 

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On Wednesday 24 May, the Fait Gallery will host the opening of new exhibitions of Unconductive Trash, David Fesl, and Mia Milgrom. 

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