Správa památkových objektů v Národním památkovém ústavu

Zprávy památkové péče 2013, 73(1):10-14

Management of historic buildings in the National Heritage Institute

Miloš Kadlec

The scope of those who established heritage buildings after 1989 was quite varied (heritage institutes, regional authorities, lower level authorities, regional museums, Ministry of Culture). Effective 1. 1. 2003, the Czech Ministry of Culture passed a decision that created the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) as an expert organization for national heritage care and which is authorized to manage most of the castles owned by the state. The formation of the NPÚ did not, however, result in the elimination of the methods of administration, presentation, and renovation of heritage complexes. This matter began to be conceptually resolved from the turn of 2008. As of 1 March 2009, the reorganization of the NPÚ central office resulted in the creation of an independent section of heritage building management directed by the Deputy Director-General, thus creating the conditions for the central management of heritage building administration and a gradual straightening of disparities (e.g. with the publication of Directive GŘ III/2009/NPÚ on the delegation of rights and responsibilities to heritage building administrators). As of 1. 1. 2010, an independent section of heritage building administrations as managed by the Deputy Director-General was created within individual territorial professional offices of the NPÚ.
A concept for the overall future direction of heritage building administration was created both for the care of entrusted state immoveable and moveable properties as well as for their presentation to the general public, including educational programs and integrating castles into the Institute's scientific research activities. As of 1. 1. 2013, following thorough analyses, and organizational change was instigated in the NPÚ structure that led to the creation of four territorial heritage administration centres located in Prague, České Budějovice, Sychrov, and Kroměříž. The basis of their unified structure is the administration of the individual heritage buildings, the managers of which are directly governed by the directors of the territorial heritage administration centres. This transformation, which affects over a hundred state heritage buildings, is intended to make their management more effective as well as to improve the quality of the care and make it more transparent.