PROJECT: Modern use of the Borotín Baroque Court (Barokní dvůr Borotín)
Financial mechanism EEA Funds 2014-2021, Culture Program
Project duration: 4/2022 - 4/2024

The project addressed the lack of social and cultural enjoyment in the region and sought to revive the cultural monument Barokní dvůr Borotín (Hospodářský dvůr Borotín), located immediately next to the ruins of Borotín Castle, whose use after several decades of disrepair is gradually getting a new direction. The goal of the project was to revive and establish the farm as a socio-cultural center (at least) of the micro-region, the longer-term ambition is to become an important cultural center of the wider region.

What did we promise and what did we achieve?

1. In December 2023, we opened a PERMANENT MUSEUM EXHIBITION focused on the history of the estate and life here in the ground floor of the oldest (first written mention from the mid-16th century) and historically most valuable building of the yard, the so-called sheepfold. The exhibition is designed to be interactive - but not through technology, but through the possibility of trying out some of the exhibits.  The exhibition will be open during the summer season and will also offer guided tours.  In this case, the funds of the EEA and Norway helped us secure funds for the work of the curator of the exhibition.
   LINK to the photo gallery
    
2. An exceptional EXHIBITION SPACE was created in the attic of the sheepfold with a repaired classicist roof. One-off exhibitions, lectures and talks will be held in this space.  With the help of the EEA and Norway Funds, a completely new plank floor was made.  
   LINK to the photo gallery
    
3. As the basic framework of cultural events, the A YEAR ON THE FARM  cycle was created, all-day multi-genre events related to the given seasons and traditions: spring celebrations - Easter, summer celebrations - Solstice, autumn celebrations - Harvest and in winter, of course, Advent. EEA and Norway funds have enabled us to offer visitors activities that we were previously unable or afraid to implement due to financial constraints. The result was attractive events for which we received  just positive feedback. We also gained a lot of new experience for organizing these events in the following years.
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4. The project focused significantly on musical and theater activities. In 2022, we hosted a theatrical performance with name of QUEENS and an exceptional composed program SHAKESPEARE IN THE CASTLE took place in the premises of Borotín castle with Vilma Cibulková and our leading oboist Vilém Veverka.  We welcomed Aneta Langerová or Hana and Petr Ulrychovi with Javory band on the open stage in the courtyard of the farmhouse. In 2023, we offered to visitors 3 performances from the repertoire of the UNGELT Theater - the drama GOOD NIGHT, MOM with Taťjána Medvecká and Lucíe Štěpánková, the tragicomedy 
   BEAUTIFUL MEMORY with Bára Štěpánová and Ondřej Brousko and the comedy THE WALK  with Martin Písařík, Petr Stach and Martin Holík. Czech pop-music star Helena Vondráčková also performed here, the band MŇÁGA A ŽĎORP led the audience into a rockier environment, and the duo BÁRKA - harpist Ivana Pokorná and cellist Pavel Barnáš offered calm tones.  And the year 2024 was opened by the New Year's concert of the BÁRKA duo, and we ended the project period with a talk-show with Zdeněk Troška. EEA and Norwegian funds helped us with co-financing and made it possible to bring exceptional artists to the Borotin Baroque Court  and at the same time gain valuable experience needed for quality organization of similar events in the coming years.
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5. We organized 16 guided tours of the courtyard and the ruins of Borotín castle, extended by a video projection of archival photos and materials. The EEA and Norway funds helped us with the financing of the copyrights of archival documents, the creation of the content of the video projection, as well as the personal costs of the curator and the technician who prepared and physically provided the tours and video projection.
   LINK to the photo gallery
    
6. EEA and Norway Funds also helped us with the management education of the workers working at the Borotín Baroque Court.