Czech Heritage Week kicked off with the traditional Moravian Days. The celebrations included events such as the Czech That Film Festival featuring Czech films, a guided tour of the Bohemian National Cemetery, and a literary evening with renowned Czech authors. The highlight of the festivities was the visit of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, who launched a lecture series on the legacy of Václav Havel at the University of Chicago and met with local expatriates. Together with First Lady Eva Pavlová, he also launched the book The Little Girl from the Stamp by author Markéta Pilátová and illustrator Renáta Fučíková. The events were also attended by Eva Haňková – Neugebauerová, whose life story is told in the book and who became famous for a photograph taken with T. G. Masaryk in 1928. Czech Heritage Week was symbolically concluded on September 28, Czech Statehood Day, with the opening of the exhibition Franz Kafka: A Man of His and Our Time.

This successful series of events during Czech Heritage Week highlighted the rich history of the Czech-American community in the greater Chicago area. The celebrations supported the diversity of local culture and contributed to strengthening ties between various communities and Czech organizations. Many participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with traditional customs, cuisine, and art, which contributed to a deeper understanding and mutual inspiration. Additionally, attendees had a unique chance to meet the President of the Czech Republic and various Czech artists who shared their experiences and perspectives on Czech culture, further enriching the program.

We look forward to feedback from our fellow expatriates, which will help us continue to develop and enhance our events and programs.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of Czech Heritage Week!