Return My Ostrava
  Potential of place – a transitional frontier point. The border of countries. The border of nations, languages, speech. The border of life and death. Latent danger. The border of nature and industrial zones. In the context of the Czech Republic, an exotic loner of an elephant with a thick grey skin and massive tusks. Many people have fallen under its spell, many people have fallen prey to it. Ostrava 2015 – a modern symphony in factory halls, sculptures on slag-heaps, theatre which breathes energy, images of such power they exude fear. A place which radiates strength – from the prehistoric Venus of Landek to the angry Karel Reisz to Buffalo Bill.

Potential of people – accustomed to existing on the frontier of existence. Intense of sound. Direct of light, like ethanol head-spinning. Egyptian pyramids piled up on overtuned tables. The view from the steel tower into the dark depths of the mine. The ability to exist together. Ostrava New Music Days, Colours of Ostrava, Spectaculo Interesse – each of these events strut confidently on the European cultural map, and there could be more of them. In 2015, tomorrow, or next month.

Potential of space – Many inspiring, empty spaces. Many lacking fountains and kinetic sculptures. The absence of a European-standard academic library and a city ‘kunsthalle’. All steps towards these goals are slow, like trudging officialdom. Many old, abandoned factories. Many embryos of potential projects. Many books that should be written. Many lacking cathedrals full of the sound of jazz organ.