Sponsoring and charity

We have long supported the development of cultural heritage and the creation of value through artistic works.

In recent years, UniCredit Bank has devoted particular attention to contemporary arts. Its support has benefited, for example, the National Gallery in Prague, Galerie Rudolfinum, the Moravian Gallery in Brno, and, in particular, dozens of young artists who have thereby gained the opportunity to exhibit their work to the broader public interested in the arts.

The bank has also provided significant support in recent years to the contemporary art fairs “Art Prague” and “Prague Photo”. Each year at these fairs, the bank presents the “UniCredit Prague Photo Award” to the best photographer under 35 years of age and the “ART PRAGUE Young Award” that is designated for talented young artists also under 35.

In the area of music, there is important co-operation with the Dvořák Festival, which brings together musicians of various genres presenting Dvořák’s music in unexpected arrangements and styles. UniCredit Bank has also recently begun supporting the Czech Culture Festivities – a cycle of festivals aimed at preserving and systematically supporting the key spiritual values of the Czech nation.

The bank is associated through a partnership of many years with Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the most prominent international film festival in Central and Eastern Europe. The festival ranks among such other prestigious festivals as those in Cannes, Berlin and Venice. Deserved international attention is devoted each year to new films from Central and Eastern Europe, which means to films from the region where UniCredit Group concentrates its operations.

Sports sponsorship by UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia has long supported tennis events, and in particular the annual UniCredit Czech Open tennis tournament in Prostějov. The bank is also a partner of the Junior Tennis Championship in Pardubice.

UniCredit Bank’s partnership with the Counselling in Stringency has also continued, whereby we are helping to prevent difficult financial situations and problems with consumer borrowing. The Centre provides free counselling to people in pressing financial situations and, in case of need, can help prepare work-out plans for debt relief. In co-operation with the Czech Banking Association, the bank also supports other projects aimed at increasing financial literacy.

Last year, UniCredit Bank was involved through its UniCredit Foundation in select projects under the auspices of UNICEF aimed at protecting and improving living conditions for children and their general development. It thus builds upon the “Learn, More” project of the aid organisation People in Need, in which the bank was previously involved. This project financed the instruction and motivation of specific families with the aim of improving children’s attendance at educational institutions and thereby boosting their chances on the job market.

The bank’s employees can also get involveed in supporting specific projects through the so-called Gift Matching Programme. This programme enables them to support non-profit organisations of their own choosing. Depending upon the funds it has available, the UniCredit Foundation subsequently donates an amount matching that donated by the employees. In recent years, for example, support has been provided to the Wakitaka Elementary School, St. Theresa Asylum Home, as well as to homeless children through the Keoogo Association. Support is given in many years to help those affected by flooding.

The bank has also long co-operated with the BARRIERS Account foundation and art auction houses. Charity auctions have been organised since 1993 in which artists and the general public take an interest. This partnership aptly ties in with the bank’s art sponsoring activities.

In recent years, support has also been provided to the concepts of the Endowment Fund of Livie and Václav Klaus.

UniCredit Bank is involved, too, in collecting for those in need. For example, collections have previously been organised for the Prague Archdiocese Charity and for the Sue Ryder House. In co-operation with Czech Radio Brno, UniCredit Bank supported blood donation with a concert, the aim of which was mainly to thank all blood donors and to inform the public about the project for donating blood.