THE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS IN PRAGUE ELECTS ITS NEW RECTOR

A general assembly of the Academic Community of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, during which the two candidates for the Rector position, the current Rector of AMU Ingeborg Radok Žádná and the former Dean of FAMU Andrea Slováková presented their concept documents, took place on 2 December 2024. The Academic Senate of AMU gathered immediately following the assembly and adopted the following resolution: Ingeborg Radok Žádná was proposed for nomination as the Rector.

With effect from 15 February, she will commence her second Rector term of office to be held until February 2029.

Ingeborg Radok Žádná has been the Rector of AMU for the past four years, having previously served as the Vice-Rector for International Relationships and Artistic Activity, and is also a teacher at the Music Management Department of the Music and Dance Faculty. From playing the cello and viola da gamba, she proceeded to take up managerial positions at various cultural institutions (Prague Philharmonic Choir, State Opera Prague etc.) beginning in 1996. During her tenure at AMU, she has been a member of multiple grant and working committees and is also a vice-chair of the Czech Rectors Conference. She is a researcher as part of several national projects in various fields and, in 2015, was elected to the Council of AEC (Association of European Conservatories), of which HAMU is an active member. She was awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters title by the French government in 2003. For the 2025‒2029 term of office as the Rector, she was nominated by the Academic Senate of HAMU, Artistic Board of HAMU, HAMU Dean’s Collegium, one-third of all members of the Academic Senate of AMU, and also by 34 DAMU students, 37 FAMU students, and 140 HAMU students, representing 30.77% of HAMU students and 13.65% of AMU students.

She comments on her candidature for her second tenure: “I decided to run for my second tenure as the Rector of AMU because I am still motivated to complete certain ongoing processes and embark on new ventures. AMU’s operation and activity faced difficult challenges during my tenure – the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ne!musíš to vydržet initiative, unlawful tampering with teachers’ privacy and school systems, the war in Ukraine, inflation and unexpected energy price hikes, and the shooting at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. Each of those events brought new stimuli and tasks for AMU in many respects ‒ physical security, cybersecurity, ethical issues, GDPR, and (not just energy) sustainability.”

In her concept document, she presents her vision of the university as a living being that combines tradition, innovation, and care for the body and soul. She intends to complete projects in progress and face new challenges. Her focus includes equal financing of the Faculties, development of doctoral studies, quality of art education, and support for creativity. She plans to upgrade the infrastructure and foster sustainability and greater connection with the international environment. Her key task is to create a pleasant and fair environment for students and teachers alike and enhance AMU’s prestige both home and abroad.