The first issue of Vienna Free Papers was published in January 1946 following the restoration of civil liberties and freedom of association after World War II. In view of this symbolic January date, the exhibition will run for nearly two months, until the end of January 2026.

The ceremonial opening in the Mythological Corridor of the Wallenstein Palace was attended by representatives of the organizing Senate of the Czech Republic led by Tomáš Czernin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic headed by Minister Jan Lipavský, accompanied by Special Envoy Jiří Krátký, guests from Austria and the Austrian Embassy in Prague, as well as representatives of other Czech institutions.

In his opening speech, Tomáš Czernin expressed his personal connection to the Czech community in Vienna and its press, and highlighted the growing support for expatriate issues in foreign policy in recent years. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský spoke about the historical significance of the Czech community in Austria, the role of expatriate press, the importance of the J. A. Komenský Czech School in Vienna, and the strong historical ties of Vienna’s Czechs to their homeland, which are reflected in the close relationship between the two countries. Pavel Rodt, Chairman of the Minority Council in Vienna, addressed the status of Czechs in Vienna, the importance of the press, and the support provided by the Czech Republic. Dagmar Toufarová, editor of the Vienna Free Papers, gave guests a brief overview of the exhibition and shared plans to relocate the editorial office to the central building of expatriate organizations, “Hotel Post.” Senate President Miloš Vystrčil also came to greet the guests.

Special Envoy Krátký had the opportunity to meet again not only with the main guests from Austria but also with representatives of Czech organizations supporting compatriots worldwide. He learned about specific plans for the activities of Vienna’s Czechs in 2026 (including a discussion with Mr. and Mrs. Pachta from “Alumni-CZ-Austria”) and about the results of selected projects implemented in support of the Czech school in Vienna with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2025 (Czechoslovak Foreign Institute). In his meeting with Pavel Rodt, Chairman of the Minority Council in Austria, the Special Envoy discussed the concrete achievements of 2025 in the long-term effort of Vienna’s Czechs to introduce a minority education model for the Czech language in Vienna, similar to that available for other minorities.