Mezinárodní muzeum keramiky Bechyně

About the museum

The International Museum of Ceramics in Bechyně was founded in 1967 in connection with the local ceramic tradition and school, and with the international ceramic symposia held in Bechyně since 1966. It is a branch of the Alšova jihočeská galerie (AJG), based in Hluboká nad Vltavou. The collection focuses on Czech modern ceramics and on works by artists from all over the world who took part in the Bechyně symposia.

Since 2022 the museum has been housed in the reconstructed building of the former Dům služeb (service centre) by the square, at the corner of Čechova and Novodvorská streets. The ground floor holds restoration workshops and a storage depot, which are not visitor areas; the upper floor has the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions.

The permanent exhibition, titled “Současnost tradice” (The Present of Tradition), shows part of the gallery’s ceramic depot. Pairs of traditional, often potter-made ceramics and contemporary works enter into a dialogue, and the pairs are rotated over time. The selection consists of thirteen thematic groups, for example motherhood and nature, perception, architecture or applied ceramics. The gallery’s aim is to gradually present its entire depot.

Highlights

• Permanent ceramics exhibition from the collections of the Alš South Bohemian Gallery (AJG), “Současnost tradice”
• Czech modern ceramics and world ceramics from the Bechyně symposia
• Dialogue between traditional and contemporary ceramics in thirteen thematic groups
• Temporary exhibitions on the upper floor of the building
• Building with a ramp, a lift and a step-free toilet

Permanent exhibition

• současnost tradice – stálá expozice keramiky ze sbírek AJG – The exhibition shows part of the gallery’s ceramic depot: traditional, often potter-made ceramics in dialogue with contemporary works in thirteen thematic groups. The pairs of works are rotated over time.

Founded

1967

Operated by

Alšova jihočeská galerie

Admission & discounts

Free admission also applies to members of the Asociace výtvarných pedagogů, Klub přátel výtvarných umění, Unie výtvarných umělců, Sdružení výtvarných kritiků a teoretiků a AICA, Uměleckohistorická společnost Čech a Moravy and Klub přátel AJG (associations of art educators, art friends, artists, critics and art historians), as well as holders of journalist cards and ICOM cards, members of the Rada galerií ČR and the Asociace muzeí a galerií, and professional staff of museums, galleries and heritage institutes.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A car park with a reserved space for ZTP card holders is located by the building. A direct access ramp, 1,500 mm wide and without a handrail, leads to the entrance; four steps also lead up from the pavement. The entrance is formed by glass doors (leaf 80 cm), whose passage is narrowed to 72 cm by a panic bar. The ticket desk is in the vestibule opposite the entrance and has no lowered section. A lift serves the upper-floor exhibition (entrance 90 cm, cabin 100 cm, buttons with Braille, two-way intercom with induction loop), or there is a double staircase. There are mobile rest points in the exhibition. The step-free toilet is on the ground floor, by the vestibule. There is no induction loop at the ticket desk; apart from the lift, the gallery does not state any provisions for blind and hard-of-hearing visitors.

Kids & families

The family ticket applies to 2 adults and 2 children under 15. One parking space is reserved for parents with children.

Getting there & parking

The building stands in a quiet residential area near the square, at the corner of Čechova and Novodvorská streets.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

There are lockable lockers at the ticket desk; you can also pay by card.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit