Czech Ministry of Culture denies funding for November 17 commemorations

The Czech Ministry of Culture, led by Minister Ota Klempíř, has denied a grant to the association ‘Díky, že můžem, z. s.’ for its ‘Korzo Národní’ project, which commemorates the November 17, 1989, Velvet Revolution events. The Ministry stated the project failed to meet specific grant criteria, as the current funding program is reserved for major decadal anniversaries rather than the 37th anniversary of the revolution.

Organizers criticized the decision, citing a lack of transparency and a delayed response to their April application. They noted that the project had received significant state support in previous years. In response to the funding gap, the association launched a public fundraiser on the Darujme.cz platform, which quickly raised over 5 million CZK through individual and municipal donations.

Several regional governments have stepped in to support the event. The South Bohemian Region pledged 300,000 CZK, and the Liberec Region contributed 100,000 CZK. Other local authorities, including Prague 7, have also offered support to ensure the commemorations proceed as planned.