Faculty of Social Studies MUNI, Radio R

The Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University on Joštova Street is home to Radio R, the largest student radio station in Central Europe.

The faculty has been based here since 2005, following a two-year renovation of the building, which was originally constructed between 1906 and 1910 by architect Ferdinand Hrach. The historic building reflects the story of higher education in Brno and contains many interesting features. The main hall was once a gym, and the attic housed a meteorological station. In the atrium, there is a small figure reminiscent of a gnome. A roofed inner courtyard forms an atrium, named in 2018 after the faculty’s first dean. The building includes three large lecture halls with 200 seats, numerous classrooms, and modern TV and radio studios. Inside, a covered courtyard is lit by light columns and topped by a charming small garden with a sculpture by Jaromír Gargulák. The library holds around 85,000 volumes and features a 100-year-old overhead crane and other historic technical elements.

Radio R has operated since 2008 under the Department of Media Studies and Journalism. It began as a small group of enthusiasts aiming to fill gaps in Czech radio. From the start, it focused on specialised music genres, minority topics, and participation in Brno’s cultural scene.

Visitors enter a shared space that functions as both a technical room—with computers for sound editing—and a lounge with a sofa and a kitchen stocked with coffee. A glass wall allows a view into the studio, equipped with the latest sound technology, where presenters broadcast live or record podcasts. Radio R offers a wide-ranging programme covering politics, technology, business, literature, dance, and music.

Today, the independent student station is run by over 150 volunteers, and its studio is located on the fifth floor of the Faculty of Social Studies building at Komenského Square.