Tisková zpráva
Plzeň – Evropské hlavní město kultury 2015
6. 10. 2014
Plzeň 2015 má kompletní program - včetně koncertu americké legendy Lynyrd Skynyrd
Pilsen will offer several events of various genres from the new circus, through exhibitions, concerts, theatre, dance to educational projects and big events in the public space as part of the European Capital of Culture 2015 project from 17th January throughout 2015. The organizers symbolically “christened” the complete programme book today, three months before the opening. “This voluminous overview is backed by several years of hard work of the team along with dozens of institutions and partner organizations in Pilsen and the region who are preparing the ECOC 2015 project with us. It’s a balanced programme of an exceptional quality," opens Jiří Suchánek, the Director of Pilsen 2015 company.
“I am happy that the project is doing well in the preparatory stage not only in the programme section but also finance-wise. We have received the Melina Mercouri prize of €1.5 mil from the European sources and have concluded a contract with Pilsner Urquell. I see it as a big success and believe that Pilsen received the title of the European Capital of Culture rightly,” comments the Chairman of the Managing Board of Pilsen 2015 and the Mayor of Pilsen, Martin Baxa.
The programme offer has a newest accession, the gig of the legendary Amercian band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which will perform in the Czech Republic for the first time ever on 1st May 2015 at the spectacular Freedom Celebration. The band members have chosen the date themselves with regard to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen by the American troops. The band is famous particularly for their hit song "Sweet Home Alabama", which has become one of the favourite 'southern rock' songs in the history of rock music. The gig will also be a present from the city’s football club as the main sponsor is the owner of FC Viktoria Plzeň, Tomáš Paclík. “And more – we will publish more music stars by the end of the year,” adds Jiří Suchánek to the musical programme.
Industrial spaces are another big theme of Pilsen 2015 - European Capital of Culture. One of them is the DEPO, former public transport depot at Cukrovarska, which will get a new existence in 2015. “The space will present four big exhibitions in 2015 as well as dance, theatre and circus shows in collaboration with the festival’s partners and as part of our new circus season. The DEPO will also be a suitable place for the presentation of various European cultures as part of the Departures festival. It will offer a co-working area, shared workshops or a space for creative companies,” explains Jiří Sulženko, the Programme Director of Pilsen 2015.
The sculptor Čestmír Suška from the group Tvrdohlaví (Strong-headed) is preparing a new exhibition for this space; recently he has been creating sculptures out of discarded metal objects, which will also be interesting for the wider public. His exhibition called reSTART will be part of the opening of the new phase of the Depo at Cukrovarská. The exhibition will include supporting activities, courses and commented viewings. It will be open from April until the end of 2015.
Two separate exhibitions are being prepared to remind of the works of the famous Pilsener, Jiří Trnka. In 2015, we will celebrate the 103rd anniversary of his birth. The visitors of the ECOC project can also look forward to a unique multi-media exhibition called Jiří Trnka Studio dedicated to the work and life of this world-famous author of animated films as well as an artist and illustrator. The remarkable collection including more than two hundred original artefacts, such as the original puppets from the 1920’s and 1930’s, top paintings, prints and reliefs, the original film puppets, a complete collection of the original illustrations, a multi-media installation about his life, a collection of digitalized films and stylized copies from his film, wood-carving and art studio, is being prepared by Animanie, the Gallery of Pilsen and the Gallery of Jiří Trnka based on the concept and script by Trnka’s son Jan. The project’s author and artist Jan Trnka, the son of Jiří Trnka, explains: “Apart from many exhibits, we want to emphasize the attractive audio-visual screenings and interactive installations. The visitor can find himself in a period puppet film studio, which also holds a replica of the original animators workspace, completed by modern technology that will allow visitors to try out the demanding work of animators." From the architect/stage designer point of view, the most notable elements of the exhibition are two sizable studio windows overlooking the real “life” landscape adding the exterior illusion to the studio. The viewer can travel back several decades in time through the film and animation magic, can enter the artist’s dream reality, meet the protagonists of his films and illustrated books and for a few moments, see the world through his eyes. The exhibition will be open at the Gallery of Pilsen from 17th January to 10th May 2015.
The second and very different big exhibition dedicated to Trnka’s work called Trnka's Garden 2 will interactively bring to life his book The Garden. The book, full of poetry and humour that has been entertaining and enchanting several generations, will become a real world filled with imagination. Trnka’s son Jan Trnka and Trnka’s grandson Matyáš Trnka used material from the family’s archive and created a unique project with elements of an exhibition, a theatre show and an animated film. The tribute to the original work of the biggest master of the Czech animation will take place as part of the ECOC programme from 24th February to 24th May 2015 at the West Bohemian Museum in Pilsen. Any visitor can become one of the characters – a small boy who discovers the entrance to the world of an old magical Garden where he will experience various adventures and pitfalls. The exhibition is designed particularly for children but their parents will enjoy it as well. “Initially, we were preparing the exhibition for the hundredth anniversary of my grandfather’s birth. We wanted the exhibition to be a real tribute to the original work and at the same time, a kind of resurrection and revival. Our aim is for each visitor to find himself inside the book and personally live the story,” explains Matyáš Trnka, Trnka’s grandson, an artist and animator, and adds that the preparation took three years.
Both exhibitions will be accompanied by a rich supporting programme. Apart from regular animation and creative workshops, visitors can look forward to the first release of the newly digitalised Trnka’s puppet film Old Czech tales, which will be presented by Pilsen 2015, the Ministry of Culture and the National Film Archive at the Finále festival in Pilsen. The restoration of the film will allow its screening at digitalised cinemas across the Czech Republic and abroad in the form as close to the first screening of the film in 1952 as possible.
The programme catalogue of the European Capital of Culture 2015, called “Book 2”, will be available for sale at the Meeting Point at the Republic square by the end of October.