Prague “switches off” culture in the open air. The organizers warn against the end of the concerts
“Don’t turn off culture in Prague,” call the organizers and artists. They are thus responding to a decree that the Prague management wants to limit the organization of concerts due to the noise that Praguers complain about. So far, the decree is to apply only to Braník, but it could be extended to other areas such as Letňany or Výstaviště. If approved, it would take effect on July 1. A petition is fighting against its approval.
The founder of the Metronome Prague festival and the co-organizer of the United Islands of Prague festival, David Gaydečka, warned on Twitter that the Prague City Council is going to “turn off living culture in public space”. “There is a risk that concerts, festivals, theaters and other performances will no longer be due to the new restrictions. All this without discussion with Prague’s cultural actors since July 1, “Gaydečka wrote on Twiter.
As organizers and artists, we have come together at the last minute and WE ASK YOU, the citizens, to take the side of living culture. We want to keep you happy!
❗What can you do?
✅ Spread this post!
✅ sign our petition:https://t.co/5mUbyXWvXO
(2/3)– David Gaydečka (@DavidGaydecka)
June 13, 2022
The Prague City Council is due to discuss the matter on 16 June. The organizers and performers are trying to fight against his plan in the form of a petition called Don’t turn off culture in Prague. “You may soon lose your favorite concerts, festivals and other open-air cultural events. Councilor Hana Marvanová is proposing, in silence, a decree that has the speed to limit the number of outdoor events with musical accompaniment in various locations in Prague. Its aim is to limit all such a culture to a few days a month, with the decision on who can and who will not be in the hands of politicians, “the petition said.
The first restricted area is to be Braník. According to the authors of the petition, however, other proposals will also be addressed, such as Žluté lázně, Letňany, Riegrovy sady or Výstaviště. Other areas are said to be increasing. “At a time when culture has a chance to take a breath after this, this unprecedented move is motivated by personal political profit,” the initiators of the petition said in the beginning of the petition.
The decree is to be discussed by the Prague City Council in an accelerated meeting on 16 June, and should then apply from 1 July 2022 and thus limit the already planned summer events. The decree should not only apply to concerts and festivals, but all cultural events that are accompanied by music.
“We, the organizers, artists and signed citizens of Prague, ask the representatives not to approve this decree and reject a similar way of working. We challenge you all behind the Prague cultural scene and the artist, help the Prague culture, it needs you, ”concludes the petition.
The Prague City Hall has decided to shorten the comments on the draft decree by which the city management wants to limit the organization of concerts on the Branice embankment at the end of May. The reason for the adjustment is the scene that has been operating in the area of the former Branice icehouses since the covid-19 pandemic and which is complained about by residents of Prague 4 and Prague 5, according to which it is impossible to live in the summer due to almost daily concerts and sound tests.
Councilor Hana Marvanová (STAN) stated at the end of May that, with regard to complaints, the municipality has no other tool to deal with the situation than regulation by a decree. “Operators have the opportunity to avoid regulation by complying with and taking technical measures to prevent noise from spreading,” the council said. “I am not afraid of lawsuits, I think the operators have a chance to solve it and we want to solve it through negotiations. And the decree is just a kind of insurance, “she added.
The draft decree envisages that events with a capacity of over 200 people could be held in Braník only five days a month and only on three consecutive days, with the proviso that in such a case it would be necessary to observe a break until the next event lasting ten days. Concerts would be held from 08:00 to 21:00, on Fridays, weekends and summer holidays from 9:00 to 22:00.