Three Czech museums to offer free Sunday admission once a month

The Ministry of Culture announced three museums and galleries across the Czech Republic will now be offering free admission to all on every first Sunday of the month.

Effective from this coming Easter Sunday, April 5, the change applies to the permanent exhibitions of the National Gallery in Prague, the Moravian Gallery in Brno, and the Museum of Art in Olomouc; three of the most prestigious art institutions in the country.

Announcing the measure on the X network, the Culture Ministry described it as the pilot phase of a project to make culture accessible to the wider public, implying that it may be expanded to other museums if successful.

Several Czech governments have already tried to implement a similar measure in the past, but failed after being unable to compensate the museums or galleries for their loss of income.

It's unclear from today's announcement whether the ministry plans to financially make it up to the institutions in question, and officials have not replied to media requests for clarifications.

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř said that "the introduction of regular days without admission fees is common practice in Europe."

Klempíř added that French and Italian state museums are open for free on the first Sunday of every month. Germany has a similar model, Spain is slightly different, and in Poland, museums determine admission-free days.

In Prague, this will apply to all permanent exhibitions of the National Gallery and its various branches across the city, including the Trade Fair Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace and Šternberk Palace, as well as the collection of medieval art exhibited in the St. Agnes Monastery.

Czech Television notes, however, that the Moravian Gallery has been allowing visitors to view its permanent exhibitions for free or for a voluntary admission fee for almost 13 years.