Czech Culture Minister Klempíř Faces Backlash Over Library Funding Cuts

Czech cultural representatives are appealing to Finance Minister Alena Schillerová following reports that Culture Minister Oto Klempíř has halted projects intended to support the nation’s libraries. The move has sparked a new wave of criticism from the sector, with professionals claiming the ministry views books and libraries as secondary priorities.

Reports from multiple outlets, including Seznam Zprávy and Deník N, indicate that Klempíř’s office failed to announce a planned project for Czech libraries and stopped existing support initiatives. This development has led members of the cultural community to contact Finance Minister Schillerová to express their concerns over the direction of cultural policy.

Funding Disputes and Budget Cuts

The conflict over library funding is part of a larger struggle regarding the state budget for 2026. On April 7, 2026, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced that the government would allocate an additional 175 million crowns from the state budget to support live culture and cultural activities. This funding, pledged by Finance Minister Alena Schillerová, includes 50 million crowns for theatres and orchestras and 125 million crowns for broader activities such as festivals.

Despite this allocation, representatives from the cultural sector—including librarians, actors, and singers—have warned that the increase is insufficient. Sector professionals have cautioned that without further financial support, institutions may be forced to raise ticket prices or implement staff layoffs.

The total budget for the Ministry of Culture currently stands at 17.6 billion crowns. This figure is more than one billion crowns lower than the projected budget under the previous government. These cuts have led to public protests, including an event on March 10, 2026, organized by students of the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

High-Profile Dismissals

The tension between the ministry and the arts community has been exacerbated by several abrupt leadership changes. On March 31, 2026, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř unexpectedly sacked Alicja Knast, the director general of the National Gallery Prague. Knast, a Polish-born musicologist who had led the institution since 2020, stated that she was not informed of the decision before it was made public by the daily Denik N.

I am a little surprised by the decision… The minister wants a completely different direction for the National Gallery

Alicja Knast

Knast had previously spoken out regarding insufficient funding from the Culture Ministry, arguing that it failed to keep pace with inflation and rising costs, which hindered the gallery’s ability to plan new exhibitions. Minister Klempíř dismissed Martin Baxa from the board of the Prague Spring following a dispute over the allocation of funds.

Political Friction and Shift in Tradition

The current friction is viewed by some as a departure from the historical tradition of the Czech Ministry of Culture. For years, the ministry was typically led by individuals with direct ties to the arts, such as playwrights, musicians, or directors, including figures such as novelist Tigrid and theater director Dostál. The appointment of Oto Klempíř, a representative of the Motoristé sobě party, shifted this dynamic toward a more adversarial relationship.

Prior to his appointment, nearly 500 Czech artists signed an open letter urging President Petr Pavel and then-likely Prime Minister Andrej Babiš not to appoint a representative of the Motorists party to the role. The letter expressed concerns regarding the independence of cultural institutions and the potential for political control over artistic production.

Recent symbolic gestures have further strained these ties. Minister Klempíř recently departed an empty chair during a discussion at Prague’s Divadlo Palace, an act interpreted by the arts community as a sign of a growing rift. A subsequent visit with moderators Aleš Cibulka and Michal Jagelka was described by observers as a performative attempt at reconciliation that failed to resolve the underlying conflicts over funding, and independence.