Dear Katerina
We have all been so very concerned about the floods in the Czeck Republic
and elsewhere in Europe. You and your colleagues are quite amazing to have
been able to save so many collections. I hope over the next months and
years, as you are working and working to advance this difficult task, you
can take a small bit of consolation from the excellent work you have
already done.
I am copying my colleagues in the Canadian Conservation Institute and the
Canadian Blue Shield just to ensure that they have this information.
Perhaps they can offer some help.
Our thoughts and very best wishes go to you.
Ann Davis
President ICOM Canada
Tlachova Katerina wrote:
> 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: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <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" (Staroměstské 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
> Ko*ná 1/475, Praha 1, 110 00; tel.: +420 2 24223696-8;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask];
> <mailto:[log in to unmask];> www.muzeumprahy.cz
> Director: Dr. Zuzana Strnadová, tel.: +420 2 24235218;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Main museum building (Poříčí 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 V?toni 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
> Staroměstské nám. 12, Praha 1, 110 15; tel.: +420 2 24810758;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <http://www.ngprague.cz,>
> Director General: Prof. Milan Kní*ák 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: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];> <http://www.nm.cz/>
> Director General: PhDr. Michal Luke1
> Contact: Lenka Edrová, press office of the National Museum
> tel. +420 2 24497376, e-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> "Velkopřevorsk?" 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.
>
> Liběchov 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: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];> <http://www.ntm.cz>
> Contact: Ing. Zdeněk 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
> Vávrův dům, Nové Ml?ny 2, Praha 1, 110 00, tel. +420 2 2312006,
> e-mail: [log in to unmask], <mailto:[log in to unmask],>
> <http://www.cpost.cz,>
> Director: Dr. Pavel Čtvrtník, 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: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <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.
>
> Plzeň (Pilsen) Region
> No serious damage on museums occurred.
> Šumava 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 České Budějovice
> Dukelská 1, České Budějovice, 370 51; tel.: +420 38 7311528-9;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <http://www.muzeumcb.cz>
> Director: Mgr. Pavel Šafr, 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.
>
> Prácheň Museum in Písek
> Velké nám. 114, Písek, 397 24; tel.: +420 362 801111, 214731, 217161;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <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: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Director: Dr. Ivana Říhová, 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.
>
> Obříství - Lamberk, Bedřich Smetana Memorial
> Obříství - Lamberk 12, 277 42
> Director: Dr. Miloslava Havlíčková, Regional Museum in Mělník, tel. +420
> 206 621616
> e-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> - water has destroyed installation equipment and technical
> infrastructure;
> - all collection items have been evacuated.
>
> Museum of Central Bohemia, Roztoky u Prahy
> Zámek čp. 1, Roztoky u Prahy, 252 63; tel.: +420 2 20910016, +420 2
> 20910017;
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]; <mailto:[log in to unmask];>
> <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: [log in to unmask];
> <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 antivirov?m systémem AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz).
> Verze: 6.0.384 / Virová báze: 216 - datum vydání: 21.8.2002
>
>
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