Umělecké sítě řízené umělci v České republice

The thesis focuses on the phenomenon of Artist-Run Spaces (ARS) in the Czech art ecosystem. It aims to explore how these Artist-Run Spaces emerge, how they function organisationally, and what role they play in the cultural field in relation to other established institutions and the art market. The theoretical framework draws on Bourdieu’s concept of the cultural field, Becker’s theory of art worlds, theories of organisations and literature on precarity in artistic work. The empirical part is based on qualitative research using semi-structured interviews with representatives of six Artist-Run Spaces in different local contexts. The analysis shows that ARS primarily arise from the need to fill gaps in existing infrastructure, to create autonomous and community-oriented environments, and to provide space for experimentation and education. In terms of funding, both grant-dependent and economically self-sustaining models appear, while all spaces face uncertainty, precarity and limited human resources.