A total of CZK 8.5 million has been raised in just a few days for cultural projects commemorating the start of the Velvet Revolution on November 17, 1989, which brought about the end of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. That is more than three times the amount provided by the state over the past four years.
The fundraising success was driven by spontaneous initiatives on social media launched in response to Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (Motorists) deciding not to provide any funding for cultural events marking the national holiday.