In Česká Kamenice, we found a city council that is not afraid to tackle the most difficult problems. We want to support the mayor in his fight against the misuse of properties and the trade in poverty. Our collaboration aims to support social services and connect the city to the world through students.

The municipality of Blatno in the Ore Mountains is proof that even a small village can lead a vibrant cultural life if it has enlightened leadership. Success in the Village of the Year competition is no accident – the municipality received the Purple Ribbon for innovation and became the nationwide winner of the "Hope for a Living Countryside" award. Local people are collaboratively restoring the organs, transforming historical buildings into community centres, and creating a place where it is a joy to live. And we are proud to be a part of it.

What do the Ore Mountains and British Columbia have in common? More than meets the eye. In Chomutov, we support a unique Czech-German-Canadian initiative that uses art to open up themes of reconciliation and identity. Inspired by Karl May, but with a twist, the project brings foreign artists into the region, along with a new perspective on who we are.

Karlovy Vary is a city of two faces. The first is the glamour of the spas, UNESCO heritage, and the film festival. The second is the everyday reality of the locals, which often bears little resemblance to a fairy tale. We have decided to implement two interconnected projects in the region under the working title "In the Castle and the Courtyard." While the first opens doors to the world through residential stays, the second, in collaboration with the KultiVary association, helps to address the real problems of people in the region.

For more than ten years, they have proven that art belongs not only in galleries but also in everyday life. The Hraničář association, led by graduates of the local university, has become a driving force for positive change in Ústí nad Labem. They strive to ensure that young people from the region do not leave but find a reason to stay here. It is in them that we have found the ideal partner to breathe new life into both Villa Heller and the building on Špitálské Square.

Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP) is not only our neighbour in Ústí nad Labem but also a key ally for our foundation. What began as a debate about the reconstruction of the Heller villa has grown into an ambitious plan to support foreign talents and develop the entire region. Together with the university management and individual faculties, we are looking for ways to connect practice with study and bring new energy to both the Ústí and Karlovy Vary regions.