Milan Knížák to Be Given a State Funeral, Czech Government Decides
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On Monday, the Czech government approved a state funeral for the late artist, educator and former rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, Milan Knížák. The decision was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček at a press conference following the cabinet meeting.
According to Havlíček, this will not be a full "state funeral" in the strictest sense, but rather a so-called funeral of a state character — following the same format used in 2019 to bid farewell to actress and dissident Vlasta Chramostová. "This would be similar to the funeral held for Mrs. Chramostová, who was also a dissident and left a significant mark on culture," Havlíček explained.
The final decision rests with the deceased's family. The artist's widow, Marie Knížáková, has already confirmed to journalists that the family agrees to a farewell ceremony with state honors.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture on Facebook, the government has instructed the Minister of Culture to organize the funeral in this format, with the exact date and details of the ceremony to be announced once agreed upon with the family.
Minister of Culture Otto Klempíř (of the Motorists party), who proposed this option to the cabinet, wrote that the ministry will contact Knížák's family, and if they consent, the farewell will be prepared jointly with them and other relevant institutions.
Milan Knížák was a member of the international Fluxus art movement, which radically transformed perceptions of art in the 1960s and 70s by emphasizing spontaneity, chance and conceptual thinking. He was one of the founders of the Czech underground scene and worked across visual art, music, architecture, fashion, photography and poetry. From 1990 to 1997, he headed the Academy of Fine Arts, and from 1999 to 2011 he directed the National Gallery.
Vlasta Chramostová's funeral, mentioned by Havlíček, took place on October 14, 2019: her coffin, surrounded by wreaths, was displayed on the stage of the historic building of the National Theatre on Národní Avenue in Prague. An honor guard of prominent Czech cultural figures took turns standing by the coffin, while the ceremony was accompanied by a display of photographs and clips from Chramostová's theatrical and film work.
Jindřich Forejt, former chief of protocol at Prague Castle and now an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, notes that a defining feature of a state funeral is the presence of a national flag or participation of military personnel. This format was first used in 2010 at the funeral of former ombudsman Otakar Motejl.
There have also been cases of refusal: in 2016, the government planned to hold a state funeral for gymnast Věra Čáslavská, and even earlier, in 2000, a similar idea was discussed regarding athlete Emil Zátopek. In both cases, the families declined the offer.
Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz
