[NHCOLL-L:1691] Floods in the Czech Republic
Sally Shelton
Shelton.Sally at NMNH.SI.EDU
Thu Aug 29 14:51:05 EDT 2002
Forwarded from ICOM-L.
Sally Y. Shelton
Collections Officer
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC 20560-0107
phone (202) 786-2601, FAX (202) 786-2328
email Shelton.Sally at nmnh.si.edu
List owner, PERMIT-L
>>> katerina.tlachova at MORAVSKA-GALERIE.CZ 11:47:43 AM Thursday, August 29,
2002 >>>
Brno, 29 August, 2002
Dear Colleagues,
As you may know from the media, a major part of the Czech Republic has
recently been affected by heavy floods. There are serious problems,
especially in Prague, north, south and west Bohemia; towns, villages, roads
have suffered a lot. Although people's lives and homes are now the prime
concern of everybody here, the time is coming to evaluate also the damage on
cultural heritage - historical towns, chateaux, monuments, museums and
collections - the losses are estimated in billions of Czech crowns.
In Prague, buildings of the National Museum, the National Gallery, the
Jewish Museum, the Kampa Museum and others were flooded; in the
South-Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, listed in the UNESCO world heritage,
the well-known Egon Schiele Centre was under water.
Nevertheless, there are many more affected cultural heritage institutions in
the country that suffered serious damage: In the Prague city district of
Karlin, the building of "Invalids", housing the collections of the National
technical Museum including the archives of architecture, history of industry
and material of the Army History Archive, found themselves at the bottom of
a three-meters deep lake.
At the Museum of Central Bohemia in Roztoky near Prague, where water was
reaching the second-floor level, interesting and modern exhibitions were
completely destroyed together with the archaeological collection.
Unfortunately, the same fate met the unique conservation workplaces, which
were used by cultural heritage institutions all over the country: the
radiation room (used for rehabilitation of objects infested by insects,
cobalt radioisotope 60Co) and the plasma-chemical conservation laboratory
(developed in the 1990s in cooperation with the National Museum of
Switzerland in Zurich, and using the method of plasma reduction in treatment
of historical and archaeological metal objects).
The town and fortress of Terezin, a national cultural monument,
commemorating WW II and the Holocaust, was completely under water. The
damage caused on the fortress itself, the Museum of the Ghetto, the National
Cemetery and other monuments, all recently renovated, are immense. Also the
Central Storage of the National Museum in Terezin was flooded.
However, we can proudly announce that with only a few exceptions, collection
items were evacuated in time from exhibitions and storerooms located in the
buildings' lower floors. This was made possible by the extreme zeal of all
museum staff members, who did not spare any effort to save the collections,
often to the detriment of their own homes. We gratefully acknowledge their
work and express our gratitude.
The most serious damage then occurred on the museum buildings - almost all
of them are listed historical monuments, and quite a few of them will now
have to face general renovation. Besides the enormous material losses on
technology (computers, air-conditioning systems, etc.), equipment and
furniture, the thoroughly soaked walls and floors will seriously influence
on the microclimate and subsequently, on the condition of stored
collections. If the buildings are not dried up in relatively short time, we
will be facing a "second flood" for the collections, due to the extreme
humidity in the buildings.
A major problem that appeared immediately after the water left, was how to
save archive material and books kept in museums. Knowing that the most
efficient immediate remedy for paper flooded by water is deep-freezing,
works were directed in that way. A "central depository" for soaked paper was
found in the cooling chambers of Mochov food plant, and wet archive, museum
and library collections, as well as the agenda of several other offices,
have been deposited there. However, we are aware that simple deep-freezing
does not mean safeguarding of the collections. Now, hundreds of conservators
would be needed to dry up and clean the items, so that to restore them in
their original condition of human memory media.
In this fight, museums stand close to the other cultural heritage
preservation institutions - archives and libraries. Although a lot has been
done in the past years thanks to the international Blue Shield scheme in
order to develop a common methodology for solving emergency situations,
there is still a lot to improve.
We are very touched by the tremendous solidarity within the museum field.
Since the culmination moment of the flood-wave in Prague, there is a
constant flow of offers of professional advice, manpower and financial
contributions for the affected institutions. The Museums and Galleries
Association of the Czech Republic has launched a public fund-raising
campaign to help Czech museums damaged by the flood. The gathered finances
will be distributed by the Association's Senate (upon recommendation of an
expert working group) directly to the museums in need. The bank account
number is 27-7705500277/0100, at Komercni banka in Prague (designation of
payment: constant symbol 0558, variable symbol 9999).
On behalf of the Czech museums, we would like to express our most sincere
thanks to all of you who have manifested your interest, provided support and
offered help. It came very quickly and in large amount, and we really
appreciate it a lot. At the moment, physical help does not seem to be needed
any more. What is urgent, though, is equipment and money - as already
mentioned, hundreds of drier units will be needed to restore the soaked
buildings and to provide for sustainable climate for collection storage.
Later, when the buildings will have been cleaned and working conditions will
be approaching the standards again, we will definitely need all kind of
conservation equipment and material, professional consultancy, as well as
physical help of skilled conservators.
Most of the museums in the flooded areas strive to re-open their doors to
the public as soon as possible: So do come and support us with your visit!
Yours sincerely,
Katka Tlachová
Chair of the Czech Committee of ICOM
First estimate of damage caused on cultural institutions in the Czech
Republic
(Press release of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic from 21
August, 2002)
This first estimate is very approximate and deals mainly with cultural
heritage and institutions under the care of the State; private property
could not be estimated yet in most of the cases.
Historical monuments and sites 181.300.000 CZK (6.043.400 EUR)
Museums and galleries:
public 1.411.000.000 CZK (47.040.000 EUR)
private 240.000.000 CZK (8.000.000 EUR)
Libraries:
public 20.220.000 CZK (674.000 EUR)
private 361.515.000 CZK (12.050.500 EUR)
Churches and buildings of the Church:
so far 30.200.000 CZK (1.007.000 EUR)
Theatres: 47.800.000 CZK (1.593.400 EUR)
Music: 26.807.000 CZK (893.600 EUR)
TOTAL: 2. 318.842.000 CZK (77.301.900 EUR)
Survey of museums in the Czech Republic, affected by the catastrophic floods
of August 2002
Prague
Prague City Gallery
Mickiewiczova 3, Praha 6, 160 00; tel.: +420 2 33321200;
e-mail: ghmp at volny.cz; <mailto:ghmp at volny.cz;>
<http://www.citygalleryprague.cz/,>
Contact: Dr. Petra Hoftichová, tel. +420 2 33324170
Chateau Troja:
- the garden completely flooded, as well as part of the outdoor
sculptures*and objects located near the lower wall;
- the underground floor of the chateau was under water - there were
the Gallery's storages, but a major part had been evacuated, so that damage
occurred on technical equipment and a small part of the storage (sculpture
collection).
Houses "U kamenného zvonu" and "U prstenu" (Staromìstské Square):
- slightly damaged buildings due to penetration of underwater, resp.
canalisation
- exhibitions in both exhibition buildings had been evacuated in time,
only the installation of Frederico Diaz, which is integral part of the
building "U prstenu", was damaged; damaged workshops and storage area.
Prague City Museum
Ko¾ná 1/475, Praha 1, 110 00; tel.: +420 2 24223696-8;
e-mail: muzeum.prahy at muzeum.mepnet.cz;
<mailto:muzeum.prahy at muzeum.mepnet.cz;> www.muzeumprahy.cz
Director: Dr. Zuzana Strnadová, tel.: +420 2 24235218;
e-mail: zuzana.strnadova at muzeumprahy.cz
<mailto:zuzana.strnadova at muzeumprahy.cz>
Main museum building (Poøíèí Street):
- the lowest level of cellars has been flooded;
- collection items deposited there had been evacuated in time to the
higher floors of the building.
"Podskalská Customs Office" (Na Výtoni Street):
- this important monument is located in the endangered area and has
been completely flooded;
- the building has been undergoing general refurbishment, so that
there were no exhibitions installed.
The National Gallery
Staromìstské nám. 12, Praha 1, 110 15; tel.: +420 2 24810758;
e-mail: tisk at ngprague.cz; <mailto:tisk at ngprague.cz;>
<http://www.ngprague.cz,>
Director General: Prof. Milan Kní¾ák Dr. A.
Buildings of St Agnes Convent and Zbraslav Chateau have been flooded. For
more information, contact the press office of the National Gallery.
The National Museum
Václavské nám. 68, Praha 1, 115 79; tel.: +420 2 24497111;
e-mail: nm at nm.cz; <mailto:nm at nm.cz;> <http://www.nm.cz/>
Director General: PhDr. Michal Luke¹
Contact: Lenka Edrová, press office of the National Museum
tel. +420 2 24497376, e-mail: lektori at nm.cz <mailto:lektori at nm.cz>
"Velkopøevorský" Palace:
- a part of the sheet music archive has been damaged by water, no
other collection items damaged.
Smetana Museum:
- collection items had been evacuated in time, no losses reported.
Libìchov Chateau:
- the building has been flooded up to the second floor level, the
whole complex including the park is totally devastated;
- the recently restored mural painting are damaged by water;
- several heavy pieces of furniture have been damaged, while all the
other Non-European collections were safeguarded in time.
Náprstek Museum:
- the underground floor was flooded, but evacuated in time. No
collection items suffered.
Tyr¹ Museum of Physical Training and Sports:
- the building is in the flood area, but collection items suffered.
Central Storage of the Historical Museum in Terezín:
- two buildings in the Old Town centre have been flooded up to the
height of two meters. Approximately 20,000 books of the National Museum
Library have been soaked there;
- the flood further damaged collection items of various type which
were not possible to evacuate in time;
- both buildings have destroyed infrastructure and are seriously
damaged.
National Technical Museum
Kostelní 42, Praha 7, 170 78; tel.: +420 2 20399111;
e-mail: info at ntm.cz; <mailto:info at ntm.cz;> <http://www.ntm.cz>
Contact: Ing. Zdenìk Rasl, tel.: +420 605-971573
The "Invalids" building in Praha-Karlín
- store-rooms have been completely flooded, the huge archive of
architecture and the Archive of history of technology and industry;
- measures had been taken to protect the building up to the height of
one meter above the 1890 flood, but water finally rose more that 3 meters
above that level;
- the flooded collections include items of electrotechnics,
engineering, chemistry, architecture and construction, metallurgy, textile
production, architecture designs of numerous 19th and 20th century
architects, many personal archives and legacies of prominent personalities
of Czech technology, architecture, industry and science, a huge collection
of photographic negatives and positives dating of 1880-1970, the
documentation of the aeronautics archive, etc.
Postal Museum
Vávrùv dùm, Nové Mlýny 2, Praha 1, 110 00, tel. +420 2 2312006,
e-mail: museumcp at pha.putmet.cz, <mailto:museumcp at pha.putmet.cz,>
<http://www.cpost.cz,>
Director: Dr. Pavel Ètvrtník, tel. 02/2315595
- the museum building - cellar and ground floor - has been flooded up
to the height of 60 cm;
- in two days, all the endangered collections had been evacuated, so
that no collections suffered, with the exception of engraved and printing
plates for Czechoslovak stamps.
The Jewish Museum
U staré ¹koly 1, Praha 1, 110 01; tel.: +420 2 24266953;
e-mail: office at jewishmuseum.cz; <mailto:office at jewishmuseum.cz;>
<http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/,>
Director: Dr. Leo Pavlát, tel.: 02/21711510
All the collection items in all the building had been evacuated in time.
Main museum building in U Staré ¹koly Street:
- the new technical equipment installed in 2001 was completely
destroyed.
Pinkas Synagogue:
- the recently renovated inscriptions on the walls, commemorating
victims of the Holocaust, were destroyed up to the height of 2 meters.
"Old-New" Synagogue:
- the building has been flooded.
Maisel Synagogue, Klaus Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue:
- water did not directly accede to the buildings, but due to capillary
humidity from the ground the walls have to be rehabilitated.
Plzeò (Pilsen) Region
No serious damage on museums occurred.
©umava Museum in Su¹ice - slightly flooded underground floor.
Museum of Western Bohemia in Pilsen - flooded underground floor.
Art Museum of Western Bohemia in Pilsen - increased humidity.
Regional Museum in Klatovy - flooded cellars of folk architecture buildings
in Chanovice, destroyed access road.
South Bohemia Region
Museum of South Bohemia in Èeské Budìjovice
Dukelská 1, Èeské Budìjovice, 370 51; tel.: +420 38 7311528-9;
e-mail: muzeumcb at muzeumcb.cz; <mailto:muzeumcb at muzeumcb.cz;>
<http://www.muzeumcb.cz>
Director: Mgr. Pavel ©afr, tel.: +420 38 635 6447
The underground and ground floors were heavily flooded, all the
administration of the museum is destroyed, as well as offices, conservation
workshop and publications storage. The building needs general refurbishment.
Collection items from the exhibition halls were evacuated in time up to the
higher floors.
Prácheò Museum in Písek
Velké nám. 114, Písek, 397 24; tel.: +420 362 801111, 214731, 217161;
e-mail: prachmuz at pi.bohem-net.cz; <mailto:prachmuz at pi.bohem-net.cz;>
<http://www.pi.bohem-net.cz/muzeum/,>
Director: Václav Barto¹, tel.: +420 362 213532
Písek municipal electric plant - Museum of town lighting:
- water has completely destroyed the permanent exhibition, but
collection items were safeguarded.
Church of the Holy Trinity:
- water has destroyed the whole interior of the church -
historical door, valuable organ and technical equipment (the museum was
using the church as concert and exhibition hall);
- the unique Renaissance pulpit has been dismantled and evacuated.
Memorial of the town of Protivín:
- heavy rain has damaged the building's roof.
Museum of Middle Otava Region in Strakonice
Hrad I/1, Strakonice, 386 01; tel.: +420 342 321 537;
e-mail: muzeum at strakonice.cz <mailto:muzeum at strakonice.cz>
Director: Dr. Ivana Øíhová, tel.: +420 342 23391, +420 603 161 867
- water from Otava river acceded the first and third castle
courtyards;
- store-rooms of archaeology, textile and shoes have been flooded, as
well as storage of exhibition installation material;
- the castle gallery had been evacuated, however, several graphics and
lithographs for commission sale were destroyed together with installation
equipment;
- museum exhibitions and other store-rooms were out of danger.
Central Bohemia Region
City Museum in Kralupy nad Vltavou
Vrchlického 590, Kralupy nad Vltavou, 278 01; tel.: +420 205 723035
Director: PaedDr. Jan Racek, tel.: +420 205 723035
- the museum building is flooded in the underground and ground floors
(technical infrastructure and exhibition of archaeology);
- collection items from the recently opened archaeological exhibition
have been evacuated, but the installation equipment is destroyed;
- the gallery located on the ground floor has been evacuated; however,
the acquisitions library and ethnographic material store-room suffered.
Obøíství - Lamberk, Bedøich Smetana Memorial
Obøíství - Lamberk 12, 277 42
Director: Dr. Miloslava Havlíèková, Regional Museum in Mìlník, tel. +420
206 621616
e-mail: havlickova at muzeum-melnik.cz <mailto:havlickova at muzeum-melnik.cz>
- water has destroyed installation equipment and technical
infrastructure;
- all collection items have been evacuated.
Museum of Central Bohemia, Roztoky u Prahy
Zámek èp. 1, Roztoky u Prahy, 252 63; tel.: +420 2 20910016, +420 2
20910017;
e-mail: smr at smr.anet.cz; <mailto:smr at smr.anet.cz;>
<http://www.muzeum-roztoky.cz,>
Director: Mgr. Eva Bala¹tíková, tel.: +420 2 20911015
- the buildings (8 in total in the complex of the chateau and
Brauner's mill) were completely drowned in water, the total estimate of
damage is not available yet;
- damage in the specialist library and archive, store-room of folk
furniture;
- permanent exhibitions completely destroyed;
- unique conservation workplaces and laboratories, technical
infrastructure flooded;
- store-rooms located in the attic were preserved safely.
Ústí nad Labem Region
Terezín Memorial, national cultural monument
Principova alej, Terezín, 411 55; tel.: +420 416 782225, 782442, 782131;
e-mail: sekretariat at pamatnik-terezin.cz;
<http://www.pamatnik-terezin.cz,>
Director: PhDr. Jan Munk, CSc., tel.: +420 416 782225
The large museum complex, including the "Small Fortress", the national
cemetery, the Museum of the Ghetto, the crematorium at the Jewish cemetery,
the columbarium, the central morgue, the former Magdeburg barracks and the
Meeting Centre building - all this has been completely flooded, and the
damage is immense.
Prague, 21 August 2002
Compiled by the secretariat of the Museums and Galleries Association of the
Czech Republic (AMG)
---
Odchozí zpráva neobsahuje viry.
Zkontrolováno antivirovým systémem AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz).
Verze: 6.0.384 / Virová báze: 216 - datum vydání: 21.8.2002
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