Cultivating the corporate environment through art

Tomáš, what was the catalyst for your transformation into an arts supporter?

My turning point was the year 2014 when I met the musician Roman Pokorný. I was a big fan and we got talking after one of his concerts – I found out that he had been sitting on a fully recorded album in for seven years, lacking the funds to release it. We immediately agreed to work together, I raised the finances. This made me very happy. It was my first foray into the truly professional world of art. Then I found fine art following a contract offer. The Chemistry Gallery needed new accountants and I came into close contact with its owner Petr Hájek. This collaboration has continued to the present day, and we hold openings in our offices about four times a year.

What kind of response do they get?

I can see a great development in the reactions of my colleagues over the years. When the artist Adéla Janská came to visit us for the first time, she was a real surprise to some of us. Not only was she a woman who painted for a living, but her paintings aroused great admiration and, moreover, disappeared from the exhibition very quickly. The Lettenmayers had their eye on some of the works, so some of the works had to be replaced almost immediately. The initial scepticism of my colleagues dimmed over time and their perception refined. They have even bought a few works, and some have arranged a studio visit with the artist. It opens up a new perspective for them. When we talk about the most popular employer benefits in the company, 90% mention the art openings.

From an accountant’s point of view, can you see ways to tax-value art?

Unfortunately, the purchase of an art object in the Czech Republic is not tax deductible and cannot be used to reduce the tax base. The only exception is charity auctions where you can deduct the entire amount from your taxes as a donation. However, there are definitely ways to make art tax-efficient. One option is to rent artwork; for example, some companies furnish their offices with art.

How does patronage reward you?

I regret the fact that high quality art or music projects often do not get realised simply because of insufficient resources. It wouldn’t make sense to me to just put money in funds or leave it unused in an account. I prefer to support artists whose vision I believe in. Roman Pokorný and I are planning a new project for this year, and I recently bought a painting to support the talented painter Martina Chloupa (pictured). I have been following her work for over a year and it appeals to me very much.

You completed the EduArt Start course which provides an insight into the art market, then you attended the Roadshow with trips across the Czech Republic and now you have been a member of the Club for the second year. What does it bring you?

On the one hand, I think of the club as education, but also as networking to a large extent. The members are usually business people and I know that I can find new contracts or suppliers here. In addition, I get access to information I could hardly find elsewhere. For example, the online discussion with mega-collector Craig Hollingworth was really inspiring and thought-provoking. He was very open about his strategy for collection building. He always buys two works, sells one of them over time and uses the proceeds to buy four more. Then he repeats the process over and over again. But it’s important to say that he also tries to help artists develop their careers – a collector can also play an important role in the artwork’s appreciation.

What else has caught your attention lately?

Definitely a visit to Krištof Kintera’s studio. He has immense charisma, and appears very direct and generous. Krištof spent almost three hours with us, which allowed us to see all the revolutionary things being created in his studio (note: Krištof is currently working on a light installation for the Dvorecký Bridge). I consider it a privilege to be able to see the early stages of works that will remain in the public space for decades to come. These are simply experiences that money can’t buy. Keeping up to date with developments on the Czech and international scene is also a great asset for me. Thanks to the Club, I definitely have a greater sense of self-confidence when I acquire a new work for my collection. Browsing through an exhibition, I can better appreciate the quality, I know how to look at the art and what comments to take as relevant.