The Czech Republic is a paradise for all art lovers. Across the entire nation, visitors encounter hundreds of museums and galleries with intriguing permanent collections as well as current exhibits. Large exhibition venues organise shows of leading Czech and international artistic personalities, while smaller galleries often present the work of regional or young authors.
Galleries and museums in Prague
National Gallery (Národní galerie)
The Czech National Gallery has permanent collections on display in 6 different locations around Prague. Collections of old masters can be viewed in the Sternberg Palace at the gates of Prague Castle (Hradčanské náměstí), or medieval work in the St. George Monastery (Klášter svatého Jiří) inside the Castle itself or the former St. Agnes of Bohemia monastery (Klášter svaté Anežky České) in the Old Town.
Galerie Rudolfinum
The Rudolfinum primarily displays contemporary visual artwork, both international and Czech, with exhibits supplemented with intriguing accompanying programmes.
Prague City Gallery (Galerie hlavního města Prahy)
Collections are exhibited both in medieval townhouses in the city’s lanes (U Zlatého prstenu, U Kamenného zvonu), the Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice), and even in buildings of a much later date (the František Bílek villa, the Prague City Library)
National Museum (Národní muzeum)
This imposing monument concentrates a huge number of museum exhibits – many permanent as well as temporary displays (natural history, history, or the separate Náprstek Museum of non-European cultures)
Galleries in Moravia
The Moravian Gallery (Moravská galerie)
The Moravian Gallery (www.moravska-galerie.cz) is in Brno and has three permanent collections: Applied Arts, Artwork from the Gothic to the 19th Century, and Modern and Contemporary Art.
Olomouc Museum of Art (Muzeum umění Olomouc)
Grouped together in the Museum of Art (www.olumart.cz) in Olomouc are the Archdiocesan Museum (painting, sculpture, applied crafts) and the Museum of Modern Art (from the late 19th century onwards).
Ostrava Gallery of Fine Art (Galerie výtvarného umění Ostrava)
In addition to its permanent holdings and interesting temporary shows, the Gallery of Fine Art in Ostrava (www.gvuostrava.cz) also offers such unusual features as a festival of alternative work or art-therapy instruction.
Points of Interest:
Sculpture Grande in Prague
Sculpture Grande (www.galleryartfactory.cz) is an annual outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture installed directly in the streets of central Prague.
