Minister Lipavský presents the cultural programme of the Czech Presidency in Brussels
19.07.2022 / 13:52 | Aktualizováno: 15.08.2022 / 14:31
During the Czech Presidency, it’s not only political and diplomatic negotiations that are in the hands of Czechs. In Brussels, you will also come across works by Czech artists. On Monday 18 July 2022 the Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, and the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, Edita Hrdá, presented the street flag project Imagine me (for what I could be) and two other cultural events – Meet Czech Literature and Watch Czech Animation – to journalists. They also invited them to the Václav Havel European Dialogues, which will take place in Brussels in November.
The streets around the European Commission are currently decorated with colourful flags. The project Imagine me (for what I could be) is a collaboration between twenty-three European artists who have depicted the flag of the Czech Republic or the European Union to fit today's times. "By hanging these works directly in the streets of Brussels, we are able to engage the public in thinking about the political issues that shape the world today through art," said Minister Lipavský. The artists covered a wide range of topics from humorous, such as Czech sandwiches, to the serious topic of climate change. They will capture the attention of passersby on Archimède, Franklin and Stevin streets until 31 July 2022.
European audiences will also have the opportunity to get to know Czech literature and animated productions over the coming months. The Meet Czech Literature project will make samples of books by important contemporary Czech authors available in English translation to international readers. Czech authors who are currently among the most appreciated – Alena Mornštajnová, Jáchym Topol or Petr Hruška – will visit Brussels. The Czech Presidency is also showcasing domestic animation. Throughout the six months, viewers can watch short animated films by Czech authors on the Presidency's website. The project, called Watch Czech Animation, offers films with themes inspired mainly by modern Czech history via the online platform Aniont.
"During the Czech Presidency, in addition to a number of cultural events such as concerts and exhibitions, Brussels will also host several accompanying seminars and discussions focused on human rights and the rule of law," added Ambassador Hrdá. In mid-November, Brussels will welcome the Václav Havel European Dialogues. This long-term project by the Václav Havel Library builds on Havel's most famous essay, The Power of the Powerless. The aim of the series is to give space to the "powerless" and to strengthen their voice and position within Europe.
Information about other cultural events during the Czech Presidency can be found on the Presidency website.
The full calendar of cultural and additional events can be found here.