Last Friday on 19th October 2007, Czech Republic's present Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Riman, and his deputy ministers decided to cease all activities of and shut down the only design organization in the country, Czech Design Centre. All activities will be stopped at the end of year 2007.
Czech Design Centre is the only public organization concerning all design activities in the Republic. The organization plans and curates design exhibition, students programs, competition: The Excellent Product of the Year, Young Package, supports design production, companies implementation of design and publishes design magazine and design bulletin. Czech Design Centre represents Czech Republic in the international organization, and is the only design organization connecting with other international organization. Czech Design Centre was supported by Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
Unfortunately, present Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Riman and his deputy ministers have decided that the operating cost of 715 000 Eur for Czech Design Centre was receiving is too much. Czech Design Centre manages this amount for operation of two offices and galleries, rent, salaries, services and organizing all the activities. But still half of this amount is for grant program (the only design grant program) for supporting companies with implementation of design - Program Design.
Ministry of Industry and Trade decided to transfer Design Centre Activities on CzechTrade - National Trade Promotion Agency. Said Jana Vin ová, "Even we don't agree with all Design Centre activities or, better said: way and presentation their activities - we can't agree with the cancellation of only public support of design."
CzechTrade's main objective is to promote international trade and cooperation between Czech and foreign companies. CzechTrade's professional information, assistance and consulting services accompany Czech exporters to foreign markets, and the agency is a contact partner for firms entering the Czech market, seeking interesting and reliable business partners and suppliers.
Czech Design Centre seeks coorperation from all design organizations and councils to express their points of view, experiences and the situation of Design Centre in respective cities and countries. The Design Centre would like to visit the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade and give him comparison with other countries.
Write in to Jana Vin ová at martin@zampach.com or visit www.czechdesign.cz.
Letter published by public association www.CZECHDESIGN.CZ. For English version, visit http://www.designeast.eu
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