A radio tower installation at Prague’s National Gallery is showcasing local efforts to preserve alternative culture as the Czech government seeks to cut funding to the arts and other public sectors.
Created by members of Prague-based Shella Radio, the tower is adorned with fabrics and relics of previous parties hosted in Ankali & Planeta Za, a nightclub that has faced closure due to financial problems.
“We believe in the idea of this radio as an amplification of voices that are often neglected in other spaces,” Shania Rodriguez, a Prague-based DJ and Shella radio host, said in an interview. “Here, they can be vocal about the issues and problems within our system and also share ideas of change.”
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Many artists and curators say the environment for cultural organizations has grown more challenging due to financial cuts by the new right wing government led by Andrej Babiš.
The planned budget for this year shrank by 3.9 billion crowns – an almost 20 percent decrease from the previous year, according to the Czech Ministry of Culture. The cuts sparked widespread backlash across the country in April, and many took to the streets.
Shella, an Egyptian Arabic slang word meaning “a group of friends who do things together,” hosts political talk shows, electronic music club nights, and summer markets featuring local artists.
“The idea behind our installation was to be able to transmit parts of our identity that have been fundamental in Shella Radio’s trajectory,” Rodriguez said. “This DIY approach gives us the freedom to customize and handcraft our installation and studio space using materials from our temporary home: Ankali.”
The installation is part of the Necessary Wishes exhibition at the National Gallery which brings together more than 50 collectives and artists.
The event is free of charge and ends on September 13.
By: Lili Anna Lempek, Adam Pohořilský, Milena Gevorgyan, Isabella Fattore
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