We are a new city institution which searches for adequate formats of presenting contemporary (by definition global) art and for understanding its form, nature and aims – under the specific conditions of the place that it is connected with.

Contemporary art is not a static affair. It is a collection of approaches to producing works of art and their interaction with the public, often requiring unusual support infrastructure, which so far does not exist at the level of a public institution within the Czech Republic. We take the restrictions set by legislation as well as the spatial, organisational and staffing limitations as a challenge to look for fresh solutions which can put up with the unstable and varying demands and forms of contemporary art. We are convinced that an institution should adapt to the nature of contemporary art and the needs of artists, curators and other creative individuals and not vice versa. An institution which rigidly adheres to the established formats and approaches demanded by the public does not work properly and does not fulfil its function – not just in relation to art and artists but, most importantly, in relation to the public. Contemporary art shows and changes the world from perspectives which are not a common component of our everyday behaviour and often even contradict it. This is the real value of art and to insist on it is our responsibility to the public and the founder of the institution.We consider education an equal and inseparable part of the activities and the identity of the institution.

We believe in contemporary art which is, in principle, in a permanent state of birth and whose forms, functions and aims are continually changing in the same way as the whole world. The base values of modern art – being open to the new, criticism of social injustice and belief in humans as free, sensitive and critical beings – continue in contemporary art in a way which is compliant with the 21st century experience and which attains unique forms in different places around the world, including Ostrava.

At this moment there is no general agreement on the future of the city and region in which we operate. We take it as our assignment to use contemporary art to present available and globally inspiring alternatives to this future as well as critical understanding and experiencing of the present. We create awareness of the more and more complicated world and the different ways of understanding, depicting and considering its risks and challenges. With regard to the unique qualities of the place and the state it is in, for which we share responsibility.

Marek Pokorný, director of PLATO, and curators Jakub Adamec, Daniela & Linda Dostálková, Michal Novotný, Michal Novotný

9/7/2018

Director
Marek Pokorný
marek.pokorny@plato-ostrava.cz

Assistant to the Director

Aneta Skulinová
+420 739 679 429
aneta.skulinova@plato-ostrava.cz

Curators
Daniela Dostálková
Linda Dostálková

Curator
Edith Jeřábková
+420 736 699 600
edith.jerabkova@plato-ostrava.cz

Curator and programming
Jakub Adamec
+420 739 675 582
jakub.adamec@plato-ostrava.cz

Programme and project manager
Dita Eibenová
+420 739 678 915
dita.eibenova@plato-ostrava.cz

Communication


Communication and PR
Magdaléna Michlová
+420 727 815 134
magdalena.michlova@plato-ostrava.cz

Audience development
Michaela Ondroušková
+420 737 834 512
michaela.ondrouskova@plato-ostrava.cz

Visitor service
Anna Pohořálková, Dagmar Pavlánová, Lívie Škutová
+420 702 206 099
info@plato-ostrava.cz

Educational programmes for schools

Gallery educator and coordinator
Iveta Horáková
+420 727 952 712
iveta.horakova@plato-ostrava.cz

Gallery educator
Alice Sovadinová
+420 737 855 798
alice.sovadinova@plato-ostrava.cz

Production and operation


Operation manager
Magda Luňáčková
+420 602 201 857
magda.lunackova@plato-ostrava.cz

Production
Tereza Měsícová
+420 720 955 726
tereza.mesicova@plato-ostrava.cz

Production
Zuzana Šrámková
+420 739 273 641
zuzana.sramkova@plato-ostrava.cz

Production (part time)
Lenka Škutová
+420 702 121 101
lenka.skutova@plato-ostrava.cz

Technician
Karel Jančík
+420 739 279 185
karel.jancik@plato-ostrava.cz

Facility manager
Radim Tomašovský
+420 737 859 781
radim.tomasovsky@plato-ostrava.cz

Economist
Ludmila Gelnarová
+420 725 871 888
ludmila.gelnarova@plato-ostrava.cz

Accountant
Michal Gelnar
+420 605 287 326
michal.gelnar@plato-ostrava.cz

Visual identity of PLATO, NORMA and website
Radim Peško & Tomáš Celizna Tomáš Celizna & Radim Peško

Since 2018, PLATO has been developing its activities on almost 5000 m2 in the former Bauhaus hobby market in the centre of Ostrava. The generous open space of the hall includes a library with a reading room, a bistro with an adjacent roofed garden and a cinema serving as a relaxation zone during the day. There is a large stage for concerts or theatre, and a shop. All these facilities, as well as the information point/reception, educational programmes facilities and cloakroom, were built together with artists over the course of one year, and that is why they are both functional zones and works of art. As this is a temporary seat of the institution, they were made with minimum construction works. Elements referring to the former function of the building, such as inscriptions or wall decoration, have been intentionally left in the PLATO interior.

PLATO will get a permanent location in the former municipal slaughterhouse in the centre of Ostrava. The slaughterhouse building served its original purpose from 1881 to 1965, it began falling into disrepair in the 1970s and in 1987 it was listed as a cultural monument. In 2017, the City of Ostrava launched an international architecture competition for the reconstruction of the slaughterhouse for the needs of a Municipal Gallery; the winning reconstruction design was developed by the Polish studio KWK Promes of Robert Konieczny. The investor, i.e. the City of Ostrava, has started the reconstruction in spring 2020, and its completion is planned for 2021. (updated in September 2021)

An extraordinary event requires an extraordinary venue. If you are planning something for a small private company or on the contrary something big, you can rent the entire gallery hall, or just the library reading room, the cinema with its own sound equipment, the stage (theatre) or the roofed garden. You can also use the bistro PLATO Café with its own kitchen that will provide customised catering.

• The ideal day for the venue hire is Monday, when the gallery is closed to the public, but with regard to the PLATO programme it is possible to agree on another day as well.
  
• We offer staff services (visitor service, production, technicians, educators, etc.) as well as technical support (sound system, microphones, data projectors, LCD screens, basic light equipment, and furniture). Wi-Fi connection is available throughout the entire gallery venue.
  
• We will be pleased to send you a quote upon receiving your specific requests. Discounts are offered to non-profit organizations.
  
• If interested, please contact us at info@plato-ostrava.cz