Uměleckoprůmyslové muzeum (Brno)

The Museum of Applied Arts (Uměleckoprůmyslové muzeum) is one of Brno's key cultural landmarks, dedicated to design, fashion and decorative arts. Standing on Husova street, it has been part of the Moravian Gallery in Brno (Moravská galerie v Brně) since 1961, the largest gallery institution in Moravia.

What is the history behind the museum?

The Museum of Applied Arts was founded in 1873, modeled on Vienna's Museum für Kunst und Industrie. That makes it one of the oldest museums of applied art in the world, established at a time when Central Europe was only just developing the idea of institutions that combined collecting with the aesthetic education of craftsmen and industrialists.

The current Art Nouveau exhibition building on Husova street was constructed between 1880 and 1883. It was within these walls that the Wiener Werkstätte — the Viennese artistic workshops that shaped European design at the turn of the 20th century — held their first official exhibition in 1904. That single fact makes the building significant not just for Brno, but for the history of European design as a whole.

In 1961, the Picture Gallery of the Moravian Museum merged with the Museum of Applied Arts to form the Moravian Gallery in Brno, today one of the largest art museum institutions in the Czech Republic.

What can you see inside?

The building underwent a major reconstruction completed in November 2021. The new exhibition concept, called ART DESIGN FASHION, no longer limits the museum to classic decorative arts — it now presents fashion and design in dialogue with contemporary art. Visitors can explore historical collections of furniture, ceramics, glass and textiles alongside temporary exhibitions devoted to contemporary design and fashion.

The renovated interiors combine the historical Art Nouveau architecture of the building with a modern exhibition layout, which is itself an added reason to visit — the architecture is as much a part of the experience as the exhibits themselves.

How to get there and when to visit?

The museum is located at Husova 14, right in the historic center of Brno, close to other landmarks and sights of the old town — it's just a few minutes' walk from Freedom Square or the area around the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.

The Museum of Applied Arts is open Wednesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a visit to Brno. Admission to the permanent exhibitions is free, making it an easy addition to any itinerary, even on a short stay in the city. Tickets to temporary exhibitions cost 80 CZK at the regular rate.

The best time to visit is on weekday mornings, when the museum sees the fewest visitors, allowing plenty of time to take in both the permanent collection and the current temporary exhibition.

Frequently asked questions

Is admission to the museum free? The permanent exhibitions can be visited free of charge. Only temporary exhibitions require a ticket, priced at 80 CZK at the regular rate.

Which days is the museum closed? The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is open Wednesday through Sunday.

How does this museum relate to the main Moravian Gallery? The Museum of Applied Arts is one of the buildings belonging to the Moravian Gallery in Brno, specializing in design, fashion and decorative arts. The two institutions merged in 1961, but the Husova street building has kept its own distinct character and exhibition focus.

What made this building historically significant? In 1904, it hosted the first official exhibition of the Viennese Wiener Werkstätte, one of the most influential artistic groups in the history of European design.