The Czech government will provide an additional 175 million crowns from this year’s state budget to support live culture and cultural activities, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced following a meeting with representatives of cultural institutions and employers.
Finance Minister Alena Schillerová pledged the extra funding, with 50 million crowns earmarked for theatres and orchestras, and 125 million crowns allocated to broader cultural initiatives, including festivals.
Despite the increase, sector representatives — including singers, actors, theatre professionals, and librarians — warned that the funding remains insufficient. They cautioned that without further support, institutions could face staff layoffs or may need to raise ticket prices.
The Culture Ministry’s budget for 2026 is set at 17.6 billion crowns, which is over one billion crowns less than what had been projected under the previous government.
