The Mánes Exhibition Hall formerly belonged to the Association of Fine Artists, named after the famous Czech painter Josef Mánes. The building, which spans the river like a bridge, can be found on the right bank of the Vltava River. It is in close proximity to the Šítkovská Water Tower, which remained the only reminder of the long gone Šítkovský mill, whose construction dates back to the 12th century.
The building Mánes is located on the southern tip of the Slavic Isalnd (Žofín). The author of this functionalist building from the years 1928 to 1930 is the architect Otakar Novotný. Previously, there was a restaurant, a club house and an exhibition hall.
The activities of the Association of Fine Artists consisted of discussing and organizing lectures focused on Czech and European art. The association also published magazines, art books and organized exhibitions. From February 1948, the association was persecuted and was forcibly disbanded in 1956.
Today the building is under construction and when completed it should again serve its original purpose - to organize various exhibitions, beneficials, and shows.
Interesting fact:
When, in 1937, the foundation walls of the Šítkovský mills were being pulled down for the construction of the Mánes building, the statics of the Šítkovská Water Tower was damaged, causing it to be slightly slanted until this day.
