Prague city hall grants 700,000 crowns for November 17 events

The Prague City Council has decided to allocate 300,000 crowns to the organizers of Korzo Národní and 400,000 crowns to the organizers of the Concert for the Future. Both events will take place in Prague on November 17, the anniversary of the events of 1989. The capital stepped in because Korzo, for the first time, did not receive a Culture Ministry grant this year.

Who gets what

The association Díky, že můžem will receive 300,000 crowns to hold Korzo Národní, while the association Nerudný Fest.cz will receive 400,000 crowns for the Concert for the Future. The decision was made by city councillors.

The justification states that Prague considers it important to ensure stable public-sector support for projects of public benefit that promote democratic values and civic engagement. City Hall describes such projects as an important part of caring for democracy, civil society and public life in the capital.

Petr Hlaváček, leader of the STAN movement, which won the Prague elections, and now deputy mayor, said after the meeting that the city supports both Korzo Národní and the concert, which, in his words, was unlucky in its choice of funding sources.

Why the ministry said no

Korzo Národní on Národní třída has been commemorating the events of 1989 for 13 years. This year the project was left without a Culture Ministry grant for the first time. According to minister Oto Klempíř of the Motoristé sobě party, the organizers did not meet the conditions of the programme, which is intended for round anniversaries in multiples of ten years. This year's 37th anniversary does not qualify.

It has not held the organizers back: as of today, a public fundraiser has brought them about 9.6 million crowns. That is many times more than ministry grants and donations combined over the past three years. The organizers plan to set aside part of the money for the future.

According to earlier ministry data, since 2023 the project has received 2.7 million crowns in grants: 500,000 in 2023, 1.5 million a year later and 700,000 last year.

What else the councillors backed

Jan Čižinský, a Prague council member for Praha sobě, added that the caucuses, apart from ANO, also agreed to support public media. They are protesting against the change to the funding system being pushed by the government.

In a petition, the organizers of the Concert for the Future backed the strike by employees of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo). Speakers on stage will include Daniel Stach from ČT, Karolína Koubová from ČRo, Seznam Zprávy reporter Lukáš Valášek and YouTuber Lukáš Fričký (Lukefry). The musical programme features Olympic, Rennë Dang, Robert Křesťan and Colorfactory.

The national anthem will be performed by Bára Basiková, and “Prayer for Marta” by Marie April. The concert will be hosted by Jindřich Šídlo and Jenovéfa Boková.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz