The Old Town Market Hall (Staroměstská tržnice) near Wenceslas Square is set to be revived after years of vacancy. The organisers of Prague’s renowned Signal Festival will transform the building, which has stood empty for nearly five years, into a pop-up gallery and cultural centre. The lease agreement, which spans three and a half years, was approved by the Prague City Council on Monday.
For over ten years, the popular Signal Festival has brought contemporary digital art to the streets of Prague. The planned gallery and cultural centre will cover approximately 3,000 square metres, offering a wide audience an introduction to the world of digital art.
“The temporary establishment of a gallery will breathe new life into this significant yet previously unused building in the heart of Prague. At the same time, we are continuing the preparation of a tender process to find a strong partner for the renovation and long-term use of the Old Town Market Hall,” explained Adam Zábranský, City Councillor for Property, Transparency, and Legislation.
The cultural centre will collaborate with educational institutions and host artistic events, workshops, and lectures. The offerings will be complemented by a souvenir shop and a café. The reopening of the passage between 28. října Street and Rytířská Street is expected to improve convenience for visitors.
The cost of adapting the premises is estimated at around 30 million Czech crowns, which will be fully covered by the operator. Measures include applying a fire-resistant coating to the steel structure of the roof. These works aim to increase the building’s value and prevent further deterioration. All adjustments will be made in consultation with heritage authorities to preserve historical elements and ensure the planned comprehensive renovation is not compromised.
Given the high initial investments and the anticipated high operating costs due to the building’s energy inefficiency, the monthly rent has been set at 100,000 Czech crowns. This will generate 1.2 million Czech crowns annually for the city from a space that had previously been unused and incurred only costs.
The Old Town Market Hall was built in 1894 as a covered market for the people of Prague. In the latter half of the 20th century, the building was converted into a self-service store, which led to architecturally inappropriate alterations: the ceiling structure was concealed, mezzanine floors were added, and the open interior was divided. These changes rendered the market hall unsuitable for modern use. The building was vacated in 2019 to prepare for a planned renovation, which, however, was not carried out.
