Sladovna Písek
a gallery for playful exploration
for children and their adults
A lively cultural centre in the heart of Písek in South Bohemia, Sladovna is located in a historic building that was once the site of a former malthouse. Today, it is a space for creative development and shared experiences for both children and adults.
Sladovna Písek, o.p.s.
Sladovna Písek (the word sladovna means malthouse in Czech) was founded to maximize the potential of the generously renovated former malthouse in Písek by transforming it into a hub of cultural life in Písek. The first two permanent exhibitions were opened to the public in 2009. Since 2013, the launch of “A Gallery For Play” concept in Sladovna has given a major boost to local tourism in the city of Písek. The programme expanded even further in 2015, following the completion of the reconstruction of the central part of the building.
Sladovna’s Mission
Sladovna is on a path of creating a new form of dynamic and vibrant cultural centre, where meaningful values and experiences are created and shared with visitors of all generations. We foster high-quality, professional culture rooted in strong values, ethics, and social integrity, while ensuring that it remains accessible and relevant to a broad audience. Through storytelling, images and play, we connect tradition with the present, art with everyday life, and the town of Písek with the wider world. Interaction and play are the essential tools for learning, connecting, inspiration and celebrating the shared joy of life. Sladovna aspires to be a place where culture and art are once again a natural part of everyday family life.
The History of Sladovna
The foundation stone of the old malthouse, located in the historical centre of Písek, was laid by the Law and Justice Town Council on 5 July, 1862. Two years later, in 1864, the building’s construction was completed. In the 1880s, the next generation of maltsters built the so-called “office house”. Since that time, Sladovna has not undergone any structural changes. It continued to serve its original purpose – malt production – for 100 years thereafter, with only a few interruptions. The malthouse was used by the Písek brewery until 1953, after which malt was supplied to the Protivín brewery, and later to Jihočeské pivovary, a state enterprise. Malt production operations at Sladovna ceased in 1973 and the building was repurposed as a warehouse. In 1995, the City of Písek took over the building from the South Bohemian Breweries and began its reconstruction. The reconstruction, commencing in 2000, originally aimed to use the renovated building as an archive. In 2005, the City of Písek received a grant from the European Structural Funds for the project "Regeneration of the Historic City Centre of Písek on the banks of the Otava River between the Stone Bridge and the Putim gate". The reconstructed part of the building received final approvals in 2007 and the courtyard in spring 2008. In 2006, the City of Písek established Sladovna Písek as a public benefit corporation with the aim of making Sladovna a cultural space focused primarily on children. In June 2009, two permanent multimedia exhibitions were opened: “Radek Pilař”, presenting the life and work of renowned illustrator and Písek native, Radek Pilař, and “In the Footsteps of Illustration”, a tribute to the history of illustration in Czech children's books. Today, the expansive spaces of Sladovna host the programme concept “Gallery to Play”, making it one of the most important cultural destinations for tourists in South Bohemia
A Gallery
to Play
The “Gallery to Play” concept is at the heart of Sladovna Písek. It brings together the world of book illustration with a fundamental element of childhood development – play. Sladovna offers a space for shared creativity, play, and learning, where the worlds of children and adults interact naturally and in ways that enrich each other. The programme is inspired by the approach of J. A. Komenského, and the role of the educators within the exhibitions is essential to how we engage with our visitors.
Originally the site of a malt factory, Sladovna now welcomes children to explore enriching experiences that will continue to grow and develop in them over time. Across four expansive floors, Sladovna features both permanent and temporary exhibitions that spark inspiration, creativity, and knowledge through play. Visitors discover new experiences when they return, each time uncovering something new.
The exhibitions transport children and their accompanying adults into immersive stories where they encounter a variety of situations that require active participation, collaboration, decision-making, and responsibility.
We believe that our visitors are able to carry over the benefit of these experiences into real life, complementing their skills in daily interactions.
Organisational structure
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Management Board
JUDr. Ondřej Veselý
j.o.ves@seznam.cz
Members of the Management Board
Ing. arch. Martin Zborník
architekt@zbornik.eu
Bc. Tereza Boháčová
terezakoucka@gmail.com
Ing. Edita Kučerová
edita.kucerova@mupisek.cz
MgA. Mgr. Roman Černík
roman.cernik@johancentrum.cz
Josef Soumar, EFP
josef.soumar@mupisek.cz
Supervisory Board
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Martin Lanc, DiS
lanc.m@seznam.cz
Members of the Supervisory Board
Ing. Ladislav Toman
ladislav.toman@mupisek.cz
Michal Průša
prusa.michal@seznam.cz