There are (no) chance meetings

If you look back two years, what role did art play in your life then?

Art has always been a natural part of my life, my parents took us to galleries from childhood, we had art books and art objects at home. Later I travelled abroad for exhibitions myself, checking out what there was to “see” and what gallery to visit in each destination. However, the only art that affected my professional life in an international IT company was the “art of project management”.

How did the EduArt Start course appeal to you?

I was eager to better understand how the art market works and what its investment potential is. I perceived that there were some “barriers to entry”, such as how to get to artists, which galleries were of good quality and so on. Until now, we bought artworks intuitively based on what we liked. I wanted to bring some kind of intention or concept to it. I confess I don’t quite remember where I first came across EduArt, but I’m sure I’d looked at Christie’s online courses before. What I found great about EduArt was how varied the programme was – lectures, gallery visits, auctions, meeting artists.

To what extent did the programme meet your expectations? Can you highlight your top three experiences?

I was really excited. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of the participants in the art market and ask them about their work and how they do it, which is information that is not really publicly available. When we were in the artists’ studios, I was pleasantly surprised by their ability to present themselves and talk about their work. With EduArt I also experienced my first big auction at Žofín.

Are you familiar with the term serendipity? Sometimes it’s called a happy accident. It’s basically finding something great you weren’t really looking for. You had a similar serendipity when you joined the EduArt program. How does a woman working in technology suddenly find herself in a lucrative position at the Kunsthalle?

My career path is full of quite interesting detours and it probably has to do with my ability to quickly find my way in a new environment or field. We visited the Kunsthalle with EduArt before I even found out about the job offer. I admit that I didn’t initially consider a career in a cultural institution at all. But then came a few turning points. One of them was a meeting Petr Hájek from The Chemistry Gallery, who mentioned during the interview that his original profession was a lawyer. A light bulb went off in my head – okay, it’s doable even without an artistic background. Another “chance meeting” occurred on a weekend hiking trip, where I met the Kunsthalle’s HR Manager. I went into the selection process knowing that either they would be impressed by the fact that I had experience in business, international companies and a passion for modern art, or I didn’t stand a chance.

Your varied experience eventually caught my attention and you are now the Membership & Development Manager at Kunsthalle. What is it like to have the opportunity to actively participate in the art scene development?

First of all, let me say that it is a great honour for me to participate in the Kunsthalle’s future development. My work is mainly about communication with partners, members and supporters of the Kunsthalle. In this respect, I wish that their numbers grow and that they find their own vision fulfilled in ours. I would like the Kunsthalle to be a place where people come to celebrate birthdays, first dates or discuss art.