Two buildings belonging to the former Bata factory complex have been transformed into a cultural and educational centre. The buildings now house three public institutions, namely the Museum of South Eastern Moravia, Regional Fine Arts Gallery and František Bartoš Regional Library. Furthermore, they provide multi-use space for exhibitions, conferences and events.
The complex of the former Bata shoe factory is located in the town of Zlín. The development of the town, and the wider region, has been closely linked to the expansion of the Bata company. The factory, established in 1894, provided employment in the region and inspiration for the functionalist building style adopted in much of the town. The factory complex got badly damaged during WWII, and in 1945, under the new political regime, the factory was nationalized. The current buildings are designed by architect Jiří Voženílek and built between 1946 and 1949. In 1989, state ownership over the factory complex ended. It was followed by a period of unclarity about ownership rights over the buildings, preventing new initiatives from developing in the complex. The buildings are not individually protected as a monument. Still, since 1991, most of the factory complex has been declared a city monument zone. [2]
In 2002, after years of abandonment of many of the buildings in the complex, cooperation between the state, the Zlín Regional Council and the municipality enabled the start of the renovation process of several state-owned buildings. When the regional government of Zlín took over former state-owned cultural organizations, a new home was sought for the regional institutions. After sorting out the ownership status, buildings 14 and 15 were deemed most suitable. [2]
Since 2013, the two factory buildings have been home to the Regional Cultural and Educational Centre, intending to preserve, present and disseminate the region’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Three public institutions are located in the buildings, namely the Museum of South-Eastern Moravia, Regional Fine Arts Gallery and František Bartoš Regional Library. Furthermore, the buildings provide multi-use space for exhibitions, conferences and events that can be rented for public and private occasions. The area around the buildings is being transformed into a lively public space that hosts art shops, cafes and events. [1;2]
With the renovation of the buildings and the creation of the Bata Institute as a cultural centre, the Zlín Regional Council aspires to draw more tourism into the region. Moreover, in putting these two buildings back into use, the regional government hopes to spark a broader revitalization of the Bata plant. [1]
The Zlín Regional Council has acquired the two buildings in the former Bata shoe factory complex. Due to unclarity over the ownership structure after the national ownership ended in 1989, negotiations with the city of Zlín were needed to clarify this. [1]
The regional authority of Zlín is in charge of the initiative. They have created a separate project structure to implement the project. This project structure is led by a steering committee comprised of members of the Regional Council, the three public institutes operating from the buildings and the tourism board. [1]
The total investment in the regeneration of the two buildings is estimated at €36.5 million (CZK 885 million). This has been provided by the Zlín Regional Council and is co-financed through the ROP NUTS 2 Střední Morava programme, which is part of the structural funds of the European Union. [2;3]
14/15 Baťa Institute, project website [translated to English], rop.14-15.cz/, accessed on 03/02/2022
14/15 Baťa Institute, organisational website [translated to English], www.14-15.cz, accessed on 03/02/2022
ROP NUTS 2 Střední Morava programme, programme website, www.rr-strednimorava.cz, accessed on 03/02/2022