David Mírek

David Mírek
chief programme director

He studied at an academic high school in Ostrava, devoting himself to theatre, drawing and painting, and after graduation he was accepted by the Department of Arts Management of the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU), where he is currently in his second year of master’s of arts studies.

His experience includes a study residency at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh; theatre work with the Damúza Studio, Archa Theatre and DS Disk, the production of international projects and foreign concerts, and the Prague festival of theatrical schools Zlomvaz (Break a Leg) at Pustevny. Because he couldn’t find appropriate spaces for artists whom he wanted to see in Ostrava, he started to colonize factories. He co-founded and is the chairman of the civic association OVArt. He is the organizer of the Dream Factory Ostrava theatre festival, the Mine Games children’s playground, and the multi-genre festival Karolina – Dream Factory.

He would like to return everything he has learned to Ostrava, where he wants to create the conditions for the origin of artists’ projects. In his opinion, art is just one way to use other languages.

He loves Berlin, Glasgow, Krakow and Žilina.

Why he is working on the project
The European Capital of Culture project is one of the most successful projects of the European Union. I first heard about it when I was growing up, when Prague became one in the year 2000. I became more familiar with it at university, where I realized how unique and novel the project is, how it functions, and what it means for a city. When I travelled to European Capitals of Culture in my free time, and not only those that boast the official title, it never occurred to me that in it would be possible to begin an initiative in Ostrava to compete for the title. It happened, and I want to help it with this effort in every way I can. At the same time, it is an incredible education for me, thanks to which I have no time left for my studies. First I was a volunteer, then an external collaborator, and now I together with a group of people administer the Old Arena, whose activities support Ostrava 2015.

Why Ostrava?
Ostrava is looking forward, towards a new future. It isn’t looking towards it from the roofs of new office buildings, but from winding towers, blast furnaces and factory halls. This viewpoint is gazing into the distance, it is sincere, and it is Ostrava.