Welcome to Czechoslovakia [antikvár]

Because of its historic mission the National Theatre in Prague occupies a special place in the heart of our people. Its social and architectural importance is closely linked with the cultural life of our State. The traditional internal strength and ability of our nation, its capacity to realize such an important construction using merely its own resources and funds, as it demonstrated in the building of this theatre in the last century, Is tellingly expressed in the slogan fixed above the enclosing arch of its proscenium: "By the Nation For the Nation". This mission of the National Theatre means by implication that it is the leading stage in our republic and it influenced and governed the decision to undertake an extensive reconstruction of its buildings and the adaptation of its surroundings. In the priority list of protected historical buildings the National Theatre is to be found in the highest category of "national cultural monuments". The main watchword of the present-day conservation of historical monuments correctly reflects the principle, that monuments to be preserved ought to serve the present, i.e. that they have to be adapted in such a way as to be capable to serve and satisfy the needs and demands of contemporary life. This applies above all to those architectural monuments, which besides housing Continued on page 34 « w If* is