Cultural newsletter of the Department of Culture of the City of Brno for February 2026

10 February 2026, 16:00
Cultural newsletter of the Department of Culture of the City of Brno for February 2026

The Brno cultural newsletter provides an overview of events and opportunities related to theatres, clubs, and various cultural activities in Brno in the coming period.

Dear supporters of Brno culture,

It may not have been the primary intention, but the “red hat” appears set to become another artwork that will provoke strong reactions. At least that is what the comments on social media suggest after publishing the design of the memorial plaque to be placed on the facade of the New Town Hall on the anniversary of the visit of Elizabeth II to Brno. While some are delighted by the subtly British and sophisticated humour with which artist Radek Talaš has approached the commemoration of the monarch's stay, others say it reminds them of a clown nose or a safety button. However, if those who can’t remember look for the photos from that particular visit, they will find that the Queen's hat is actually very accurately depicted (J). You can read more about the public procurement that led to the design of the memorial plaque below. It will be unveiled on 28 March, exactly thirty years since Her Majesty greeted the people of Brno on Dominican Square and became not only the first head of the British monarchy to visit Brno, but also the Czech Republic in general. So – Hats off to the Queen!

I wish you a February rich in cultural experiences.

Markéta Vaňková
Mayor of the City of Brno

FROM US TO YOU

In the Footsteps of Theatre: A Walk Through Brno
Take a peek into Brno's theatrical past through the new Theatre Trail, which was created in cooperation between the Department of Culture of the City of Brno and the Theatre Faculty of JAMU. The author of the project, student Hana Haničincová, guides visitors through the places of former theatre life, which now serve different purposes, and uses archival materials to introduce/explain the roots of Brno's theatre tradition.

READ MORE

Commemoration of the Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Brno

At the end of March, Brno will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II with a new artwork – a commemorative plaque on the wall of the New Town Hall. The author of the work, Radek Talaš, has depicted the historical moment through an iconic red hat made of lacquered bronze, set into a stainless-steel plate. The symbol of the hat refers not only to the Queen's distinctive fashion style but also serves as a gesture of respect and reverence.

READ MORE

Workshops Promoting International Cooperation

How does Brno support international cooperation in culture and creative industries? Get to know more on 24 February 2026 by taking part in the free educational workshop of Culture Brno. The event will take place in the small meeting room of the New Town Hall (known as “Podkova”). The topics covered will include the possibilities of supporting the city in the field of international cooperation, cooperation with partner cities, the services of TIC BRNO and the practical significance of the UNESCO City of Music title for the development and presentation of the city. Space is limited, so be sure to register early for the workshop.

REGISTRATION

Call for Participants: Culture as a Common Language Conference
In June, in cooperation with the Jiří Mahen Library, we are organising a free conference entitled Culture as a Common Language. We will focus on the topics of national minorities and foreign language speakers, social inclusion in relation to communities and the readiness of cultural institutions and infrastructure. Do you have something to say about these topics, and would you like to share your practical experience? Or do you know of a project that should definitely be a part of the conference programme? We are announcing an open call for the conference participants. You can send your suggestions and proposals until the end of February.
SEND A SUBMISSION

Villa Bohêma Literary Residency Welcomes a French Author to Brno Once Again
In cooperation with the French Institute in Prague, the Moravian Library, Alliance Française in Brno, the Czech Centre in Paris and La Maison des Écritures in the city of La Rochelle, we are organising the third year of the Villa Bohêma literary residency programme. The call for applications for French authors is currently open until the end of March. The programme offers a one-month residency in Brno focused on the development of a project related to French-Czech dialogue and European themes. The project is intended as reciprocal – Brno will also send an author to France for a literary residency.

Radost Theatre Launches Selection Process for New Director

Brno has announced a selection procedure for the position of director of the Radost Theatre. We are looking for candidates with experience in leading a cultural organisation, a clear vision and a desire to contribute to the further development of the theatre. We are accepting applications until 30 April 2026. The application should include, among other things, an outline of the artistic concept, a proposal for the selection of the artistic director and an economic, business and marketing strategy.

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CONDITIONS OF THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Calling All Creatives: The 8th Creative Brno Grant Is Open!
Are you implementing or preparing a project that supports creative entrepreneurship in Brno, represents the Brno creative scene or educates professionals or the general public? Your activities may receive support from the city’s budget. We are accepting applications until 23 March 2026. Projects in the fields of design, architecture, video games and games, advertising and crafts are eligible.

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Open Call: Old Firehouse

The reconstruction of a new cultural centre in the historic building of the old fire station in Komín is almost completed. The organisers are preparing for the first open season from September 2026 to June 2027, and the city district is looking for interested parties to use the space on a regular or occasional basis. They have a main hall (capacity: 60 people – table seating, 100 people – theatre seating, 120 people – standing), a smaller hall with a bar and three clubrooms suitable for smaller groups and regular activities.
What are they looking for?
- activities aimed at community gatherings, development, creativity and prevention, such as workshops and courses
- cultural programmes such as theatres, concerts, stand-up shows, etc.
If you are interested in a regular or even a one-time rental, please send an email to chylova@komin.brno.cz. Send your proposals by 28 February 2026.

Sýpka Social Centre Offers Co-Organisation of Events and Preferential Conditions

Are you looking for a space for a social, cultural or corporate event? The Sýpka Social Centre in Medlánky offers a spacious and variable hall suitable for various types of cultural and creative events. The hall has a pleasant atmosphere with the possibility of adjusting the arrangement according to the nature of the event. Accessibility and comfort for organisers and visitors alike are a matter of course. In case you wish to co-organise your event with the Brno-Medlánky district, there are favourable discounts offered for the space rental. For more information, please contact: albrechtova@medlanky.brno.cz, phone: 538 706 252.

OPPORTUNITIES

UPROSTŘED Festival Announces Open Call
Do you want to bring art to life in the centre of Brno this summer? TIC BRNO and Kávéeska are planning the UPROSTŘED Festival, which will take place from June to August 2026. They are looking for ideas for artistic interventions, site-specific projects and other forms of live culture in public space. Open to individuals and organisations, newcomers and seasoned professionals, the festival connects art, shared experiences and the vibrant summer atmosphere of Brno’s city centre.

READ MORE

TIC BRNO Opens a Call for Bands and Musical Acts for Open-Air Events
Do you want to participate in the events and festivals in the centre of Brno? Are you a (budding) musical group and would you like to perform at one of the TIC BRNO events? Log in to the database from which performers are selected for Brno Christmas, Brno Day or the festivals UPROSTŘED or Na prknech, dlažbě i trávě. TIC BRNO is looking for bands and musical acts of various genres, for example, pop, rock, swing, folk and historical music. The prerequisites are a willingness to play outdoors all year round and a repertoire of at least 60 minutes of live playing.

READ MORE

Brno’s Cultural Institutions Are Recruiting New Team Members

Several cultural organisations in Brno are looking for new talent and have announced various open positions. Interested in a career in Brno’s cultural scene? See if there's an offer that's right for you.

Radost Theatre – internal auditor – READ MORE

National Theatre Brno – sales officer – READ MORE

The Brno City Museum offers several opportunities – sommelier, ethnographer/sociologist, chief educator, archaeologist, guide, technical worker and security guard – READ MORE

Brno Museum Looks to Expand Its Collections
Are you spending the frosty start of the year indoors, cleaning and discovering hidden treasures left behind by previous generations? The Brno Museum is looking for new additions to its collection:

Works by artists from the Tišnov region or associated with the region (e.g. O. Rosenbaum, A. Lukášek, V. Bortlíková, S. Bělík, B. Vala and others)
Craft objects from the Ivančice region (until the mid-20th century)
Relics from the Slavkov battlefield (buttons, bullets, remnants of equipment, etc.)
Objects and texts documenting trades in Šlapanice and its surroundings (until the mid-20th century)
Issues of the Salon monthly (1922–1943)
If you have any of these items, the museum will gladly accept them as part of its collections.

READ MORE

Applications Now Open for South Moravian Region Subsidies
Applications for subsidies from the South Moravian Region are accepted in the following areas:

Support for monuments of local significance – restoration of small monuments with cultural and historical value that are not registered in the list of monuments
READ MORE

Support for cultural monument restoration – preservation and restoration of movable and immovable cultural monuments
READ MORE

Works of art in public space – creation, restoration or preservation of works of art intended for permanent or long-term placement in public space
READ MORE

Applications can be submitted until 27 February 2026 by 2 p.m.

Don’t Miss the Deadlines for European Grant Programmes
Calls are currently open for Culture Moves Europe, which supports the mobility of artists and cultural professionals across Europe, and Culture Helps Solidarity, which aims to integrate Ukrainian refugees through cultural activities and projects. These programmes offer opportunities for international cooperation, exchange of experiences and the development of creative projects with a wider impact.

READ MORE

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The cycle of classical music concerts directed by its founder, Barbara Maria Willi, has been an integral part of cultural events in the Moravian capital for twenty-three years. The audience in Brno has already been introduced to a number of  outstanding personalities and ensembles with whom Barbara Maria Willi regularly cooperates. This year's opening concert, traditionally held on Wednesday, 11 February, in the hall of the Convent of the Merciful Brothers with a subtitle Music in Motion offered a combination of the art of the fortepiano with flute played by Sofia Mavrogenidou and accompanied by young dancers Klementýna Anna Špičková and Adam Mišo, choreographed by David Strnadmore

The final concert of this year’s instalment of the Barbara Maria Willi Presents series offered a unique project that on 4 December brought together two ensembles in the Convent of the Brothers of Mercy:  Cappella Pratensis and Ramillete de Tonos. They showed the audience the many different ways in which one can work with the polyphonic repertoire of the 15th and 16th centuries. The programme intertwined sacred and secular music, and purely vocal, vocal-instrumental and purely instrumental pieces.  more

The rediscovery and digitisation of the Brno polyphonic manuscripts BAM 1 and BAM 2 has opened a new chapter in the study and performance of Renaissance music. At the crossroads of historical research, modern technology, and artistic interpretation stands Past Forward, a cross-border project connecting institutions from the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic. At its artistic core are two musicians whose approaches complement each other: Tim Braithwaite, artistic director of Cappella Pratensis, and Kateřina Maňáková, lutenist, teacher of early plucked instruments at Janáček Academy of Performing Arts and guarantor of the entire initiative. In this conversation, they discuss working with previously overlooked sources, the challenges of historically informed performance, the promises of international collaboration, and their vision for the future of early-music interpretation.  more

The concert by Filharmonie Brno under Dennis Russell Davies on Thursday 6 November in Besední dům offered a fascinating programme combining the work of two contemporary composers from the former Soviet Union. The performers included Armenian baritone Aksel Daveyan, violist Julian Veverica, percussionist Lukáš Krejčí, and the Austrian Hard-Chor Linz choir under choirmaster Alexander Koller.  more

Brno-born pianist and Director General of the Czech Philharmonic, David Mareček, is appearing together with cellist Václav Petr on a concert tour in South Korea. During the first week of November, the duo is presenting Czech repertoire on prestigious stages, including the Seogwipo Arts Center, Yongin Poeun Art Hall and Daegu Concert House.  more