NewsFirst winner of the VHLF Award to Czech Theater StudentApril 12, 2015We proudly announce the first winner of the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation Award to Czech theater student – Petr Erbes jr. Petr won the contest for best mini-drama on the theme of “Ferdinand Vanek Today”. The Award is organized in collaboration with DAMU, the Tisch School of the Arts, and …
Events25 Years since Havel’s Speech to the CongressMarch 18, 2015On March 18, Speaker John Boehner and House leaders gathered at the Freedom Foyer to lay a wreath at the base of Vaclav Havel’s bust to commemorate 25 years since his legendary address to the joint session of Congress. Vaclav Havel Library Foundation representatives – Joseph Balaz, Elliot Berke and …
Events25 Years since Havel’s speech to a joint session of the United States CongressFebruary 26, 2015On February 21 we marked 25 years since Vaclav Havel’s memorable speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. It received seventeen standing ovations. Havel was the first President of the former communist block to visit the United States after the fall of the Berlin wall. This visit …
NewsLetter From a Venezuelan JailFebruary 16, 2015By Leopoldo López Los Teques, Venezuela – My country, Venezuela, is on the verge of social and economic collapse. This slow-motion disaster, nearly 15 years in the making, was not initiated by falling oil prices or by mounting debts. It was set in motion by the authoritarian government’s hostility toward …
EventsCelebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav HavelNovember 18, 2014The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation participated in the Celebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav Havel,a week-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and President Havel’s victory over the totalitarian regime. The series of celebratory events started at the Bohemian National Hall …
EventsVaclav Havel Bust Dedication at U.S. CapitolNovember 18, 2014A bust of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, was dedicated at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, November 19. The official speeches were delivered by John Boehner, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, and Congressman Ed Royce. The Czech Republic was represented by Jan …
EventsVáclav Havel Bust Will Be Dedicated on November 19, 2014November 17, 2014A bust of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, will be dedicated at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, November 19. After the dedication in National Statuary Hall, the bust will be added to the Capitol’s Freedom Foyer, joining Winston Churchill, Lajos Kossuth, Abraham Lincoln, and George …
EventsLaunch of the definitive biography of Vaclav Havel by Michael ZantovskyNovember 11, 2014GROVE ATLANTIC in collaboration with the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation and Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association present Michael Žantovský on Václav Havel In conversation with David Remnick Bohemian National Hall 321 East 73rd Street New York, NY 10021 November 11, 2014, 7:00 p.m. David Remnick, The New Yorker editor, journalist …
EventsHavel: A LifeNovember 11, 2014Michael Zantovsky introduced the biography Havel: A Life at the Bohemian National Hall on November 11, 2014. Zantovsky, the current ambassador to the United Kingdom, former press secretary and longtime friend of Havel was interviewed by David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize winning author, journalist, and editor of The New Yorker magazine. …
NewsPavla Niklova was appointed the VHLF Executive Director starting July 1, 2014July 1, 2014Pavla Niklova has two decades of experience in executive and managerial positions at prominent arts and cultural organizations in the United States and in the Czech Republic. Her focus is on the conception, preparation and promotion of innovative programs that encourage international collaboration and exchange. In 2010 Pavla Niklova was …
NewsThe 24th Anniversary of Havel’s Address to Joint Session of US CongressFebruary 21, 2014Today marks the 24th Anniversary of President Havel’s historic address to a joint session of the United States Congress. Speaking as the recently elected President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Havel began his speech: “My advisors have advised me, on this important occasion, to speak in Czech. I don’t know …
NewsPalouš: Europe’s relations with Cuba should require improvement on human rightsJanuary 30, 2014The Miami Herald today published an article by VHLF President Martin Palous entitled “Europe’s relations with Cuba should require improvement on human rights.” In his piece, Palous discusses the context for negotiations between the European Union and Cuba and explains why negotiations must include a comprehensive examination of Cuba’s domestic …
NewsFirst winner of the VHLF Award to Czech Theater Student April 12, 2015 We proudly announce the first winner of the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation Award to Czech theater student – Petr Erbes jr. Petr won the contest for best mini-drama on the theme of “Ferdinand Vanek Today”. The Award is organized in collaboration with DAMU, the Tisch School of the Arts, and …
Events25 Years since Havel’s Speech to the Congress March 18, 2015 On March 18, Speaker John Boehner and House leaders gathered at the Freedom Foyer to lay a wreath at the base of Vaclav Havel’s bust to commemorate 25 years since his legendary address to the joint session of Congress. Vaclav Havel Library Foundation representatives – Joseph Balaz, Elliot Berke and …
Events25 Years since Havel’s speech to a joint session of the United States Congress February 26, 2015 On February 21 we marked 25 years since Vaclav Havel’s memorable speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. It received seventeen standing ovations. Havel was the first President of the former communist block to visit the United States after the fall of the Berlin wall. This visit …
NewsIn honor of the victims of terrorist attacks at Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in Paris last week, we bring a piece of Vaclav Havel’s essay: Words on Words February 26, 2015 Vaclav Havel: Words on Words Vaclav Havel received the Peace Prize of the German Booksellers Association on October 15, 1989. He wrote the following as his acceptance speech. … Is the human word truly powerful enough to change the world and influence history? And even if there were epochs when …
NewsLetter From a Venezuelan Jail February 16, 2015 By Leopoldo López Los Teques, Venezuela – My country, Venezuela, is on the verge of social and economic collapse. This slow-motion disaster, nearly 15 years in the making, was not initiated by falling oil prices or by mounting debts. It was set in motion by the authoritarian government’s hostility toward …
EventsCelebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav Havel November 18, 2014 The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation participated in the Celebration of Freedom, 25 Years of Democracy – A Salute to Vaclav Havel,a week-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and President Havel’s victory over the totalitarian regime. The series of celebratory events started at the Bohemian National Hall …
EventsVaclav Havel Bust Dedication at U.S. Capitol November 18, 2014 A bust of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, was dedicated at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, November 19. The official speeches were delivered by John Boehner, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, and Congressman Ed Royce. The Czech Republic was represented by Jan …
EventsVáclav Havel Bust Will Be Dedicated on November 19, 2014 November 17, 2014 A bust of Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, will be dedicated at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on Wednesday, November 19. After the dedication in National Statuary Hall, the bust will be added to the Capitol’s Freedom Foyer, joining Winston Churchill, Lajos Kossuth, Abraham Lincoln, and George …
EventsLaunch of the definitive biography of Vaclav Havel by Michael Zantovsky November 11, 2014 GROVE ATLANTIC in collaboration with the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation and Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association present Michael Žantovský on Václav Havel In conversation with David Remnick Bohemian National Hall 321 East 73rd Street New York, NY 10021 November 11, 2014, 7:00 p.m. David Remnick, The New Yorker editor, journalist …
EventsHavel: A Life November 11, 2014 Michael Zantovsky introduced the biography Havel: A Life at the Bohemian National Hall on November 11, 2014. Zantovsky, the current ambassador to the United Kingdom, former press secretary and longtime friend of Havel was interviewed by David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize winning author, journalist, and editor of The New Yorker magazine. …
EventsThe Vaclav Havel Library Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution with Two Commemorative Events in November; Launches Havel Award for Czech Theater Student October 25, 2014 The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution with Two Commemorative Events in November; Launches Havel Award for Czech Theater Student The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation (VHLF) will introduce the biography Havel: A Life on November 11th, 2014 in New York City anddedicate a bust of …
NewsThe Vaclav Havel Initiative for Human Rights and Diplomacy is a new project of the FIU School of International and Public Affairs July 1, 2014 The Václav Havel Initiative for Human Rights and Diplomacy is a project of the FIU School of International and Public Affairs. Designed to be an international resource for scholars, researchers, parliamentarians, and others, the Havel Initiative provides training, study programs, research, policy analysis and public events in support of democratic …
NewsPavla Niklova was appointed the VHLF Executive Director starting July 1, 2014 July 1, 2014 Pavla Niklova has two decades of experience in executive and managerial positions at prominent arts and cultural organizations in the United States and in the Czech Republic. Her focus is on the conception, preparation and promotion of innovative programs that encourage international collaboration and exchange. In 2010 Pavla Niklova was …
NewsThe 24th Anniversary of Havel’s Address to Joint Session of US Congress February 21, 2014 Today marks the 24th Anniversary of President Havel’s historic address to a joint session of the United States Congress. Speaking as the recently elected President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Havel began his speech: “My advisors have advised me, on this important occasion, to speak in Czech. I don’t know …
NewsPalouš: Europe’s relations with Cuba should require improvement on human rights January 30, 2014 The Miami Herald today published an article by VHLF President Martin Palous entitled “Europe’s relations with Cuba should require improvement on human rights.” In his piece, Palous discusses the context for negotiations between the European Union and Cuba and explains why negotiations must include a comprehensive examination of Cuba’s domestic …