EU funds help: A modern Design Museum has been created in Brno

The transformation of the Museum of Applied Arts over the last quarter of a century shows the dynamics that galleries and museums go through in order to attract visitors and keep up with the development of contemporary art. After the largest reconstruction since World War II, the building on Husova Street was reopened in 2001 and acquired a new exhibition in line with contemporary trends.
 
However, after just 15 years, it became clear that some technologies were outdated. And above all, the Moravian Gallery, which operates the building, decided to fundamentally transform the Museum of Applied Arts. "And there was an opportunity to use EU funds. This enabled us to upgrade the technologies but also to fundamentally change the concept of the entire Museum of Applied Arts," says Jan Press, director of the Moravian Gallery.
 
The idea of converting a standard exhibition into a Design Museum had a thorny path to walk. Most well-known designers work in Prague, but the Moravian Gallery in Brno was able to arouse their interest. Leading domestic artists participated in the projects and turned Brno into a kind of Czech mecca of design.
 
A CLOUD AND A ROBOTIC CAFE
Top names representing Czech design, such as Maxim Velčovský or the Olgoj Chorchoj studio, Eva Geislerová or David Karásek, participated in creating the appearance of the museum. And other designers, including architect Marek Štěpán, who is the author of the famous robotic café in the museum, but also of the renovation of the terrace behind the museum, where the interesting conceptual object Cloud was created.
 
"The purpose of the grant was actually to improve the visitor facilities. A large part of the funds therefore went into new technologies such as air conditioning and new lighting throughout the space. However, for us, the essential part was the overall transformation of the museum space so that we could create new installations of a certain quality. We succeeded in this, and the grant from EU funds served us very well,” says Jan Press.
 
In 2019, the museum closed its gates and the major renovation began. However, the Covid epidemic came and changed everything. The borders were closed and the German contractor who was supposed to implement the aforementioned Cloud could not come to Brno. Cooperation with the Czech designers was also complicated. "Instead of meeting naturally, we had to arrange everything online. And when we were moving the robotic arm, the Suez Canal crisis intervened. So the robotic arm travelled all around Africa. "We experienced firsthand the global crisis and the change in what is global and what is regional," the Moravian Gallery director describes and continues: "We were all the more glad that we opted for Czech design." Even the actual implementation is a kind of showcase of the skills of Czech designers and manufacturers.”
 
Already in 2021, the first visitors could see for themselves that it was a success. And despite Covid restrictions, they found their way to the Design Museum. "The visitor response to our exhibitions was enormous." "Visitor numbers have multiplied, also thanks to the fact that the permanent exhibition is free and admission is only charged for temporary exhibitions," says Jan Press.
 
ROBOTIC CAFE ATTRACTS ALL AGES
The best way to see how the Museum of Applied Arts has changed is to visit it. The modern concept of the exhibitions will surprise you from the first moment you enter the museum. The space originally used for a large permanent exhibition now houses current exhibitions. They can in fact occupy 700 square meters, which is a uniquely large area for an exhibition presentation. The historical spaces have also seen a revival. In the entrance hall, you will discover the Demon of Growth installation by Krištof Kintera. You can admire the airy hall from suspended walkways created by the Olgoj Chorchoj studio. Maxim Velčovský was able to concentrate the entire collection of glass and porcelain into two halls, completely changing the way we view the presentation of museum exhibits. The absolute highlight is the robotic café. Here, a special arm, a symbol of the oncoming Industry 4.0, will make you coffee with your portrait on it. "Our robotic café has become a very popular place, visited by many Brno residents as well as tourists," says Jan Press.
 
THANKS TO EU FUNDS, YOU CAN ADMIRE MODERN DESIGN IN BRNO. The building of the Museum of Applied Arts in Brno has undergone a huge transformation, giving rise to the Design Museum that is entirely unique in Czechia. EU funds supported the reconstruction of the building with almost CZK 100 million. The interior of the museum is very modern and is in interesting contrast to the classic appearance of the building from the 19^th century. An example of contemporary design is a robotic café or an open depository.
 
Photo: Moravian Gallery + Deník daily/ Archive