The Kunsthalle Praha Mission
To create a gallery in Prague with a dynamic programme of events and exhibitions – a visitor-focussed institution operating on the highest international level.
Kunsthalle Praha is a new centre for modern and contemporary art located in the centre of Prague, in the former Zenger Electrical substation in Klarov. Its doors will open to visitors in 2021, following the complete reconstruction of the building.
The German word Kunsthalle is normally used for galleries that put on short-term exhibitions. Our aim is to create a welcoming and visitor-friendly cultural centre in Prague that is international in scope – a space for 20th and 21st century art supported by a full program of educational and other events aimed at art-lovers of all kinds, from experts to those just setting out on their journey of discovery.
Kunsthalle Praha is a non-profit organization established by The Pudil Family Foundation. Its name places it in the tradition of exhibition spaces specific to Central and Northern Europe. Our program will focus on presenting temporary exhibitions, facilitating research in modern and contemporary art, and exploring innovative ways of bringing art to the public.
Kunsthalle Praha aims to become an integral part of a socially and culturally diverse society. We want to make art accessible to everyone – not just experts, but people from all walks of life and of all ages.
Program
Kunsthalle Praha's programming is based on a strong commitment to established and emerging artists from Central Europe, as well as the discovery of artistic trends and periods that are underrepresented or little known in the Czech Republic.
Kunsthalle Praha’s dramaturgy is built on three pillars:
- to present and contrast modern and contemporary art over a period extending from the end of the 19th century to the present. This includes showing how the art of the present has evolved from the art of the past – but also where it departs from and reinterprets it.
- to explore the diversity of approaches of collectors of modern and contemporary art, in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. To show private collections rarely accessible to the public, invite collectors to talk about their passions, the history of their collections and their personal journeys.
- to facilitate artistic encounters and discoveries, strengthen links, foster exchanges, and create partnerships with the arts scenes and institutions of neighbouring countries, especially Austria, Germany and our fellow Visegrad countries Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
The exhibition program will be accompanied by a wide variety of activities and events aimed at all audiences. Kunsthalle Praha will have a café, a library and an educational area for visitors to the exhibitions, allowing them to pursue and deepen their exploration of artistic creation and contemporary culture.
The Kunsthalle Praha Collection
Kunsthalle Praha is gradually building up a representative collection tracing the development of Czech art from the early 20th century to the present.
Our collection is made up of works either owned by us or on long-term loan. It is augmented with many pieces by world artists, allowing us to view the core Czech collection in its international context.
The permanent collection will serve as one of several resources for Kunsthalle’s short-term exhibitions, research projects and educational activities.
Location and Building
For the purposes of Kunsthalle Praha,
The Pudil Family Foundation is preparing to reconstruct
a building on the corner of streets Pod Bruskou and U Bruských kasáren.
The former Zenger Electrical substation building is located in the very centre of Prague in the areas Klárov, Malá Strana and Hradčany. Due to technological advances, the substation’s equipment was relocated to a smaller area in the building’s basement, and so the original technological purpose of the building was no longer required.
We intend to reconstruct the building in order to achieve its sensitive conversion into a top-level modern gallery space that will serve the citizens of our capital and its visitors.
We are gradually building an international team of architects, planners and designers to prepare the reconstruction project. The main architects are Schindler Seko Architects.
We expect that Kunsthalle Praha will open its doors for visitors in 2021.
