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 …
EventsNew York EncountersJanuary 18, 2014VHLF President Martin Palouš spoke at the January 18th New York Encounters event at Manhattan Center in New York. Palouš’s talk was entitled “Václav Havel: Champion of the Heart, Builder of a Nation.”
NewsBarcelona Unveil’s Espai HavelJanuary 15, 2014HLF Advisory Board member William Shipsey joined Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, and Karel Schwarzenberg to dedicate “Espai Havel” on February 15th. Espai Havel (Havel’s Place) is located in Parc de la Ciutadella next to the Catalan Parliament building. Barcelona is the third city worldwide to install a Havel’s Place …
NewsWendy Luers Announced as Interim Executive Director of VHLFJanuary 1, 2014Wendy Luers, the Vice-Chair of the VHLF Board of Directors, was announced as Interim Executive Director. Mrs. Luers has great experience from leading nonprofit organizations promoting civil society in Eastern Europe. She was a close friend of Vaclav Havel since the 1980s and was involved in many decisive political and …
NewsBill Shipsey at the Unveiling of Dublin’s Havel’s PlaceDecember 15, 2013VHLF Advisory Board member William Shipsey helped launch Dublin’s “Havel’s Place” memorial. The memorial is located in St. Patrick’s Park, next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn was joined at the ceremony by former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Ambassador to Ireland Tomaš Kafka, and …
Events“Václav Havel: Anticodes” in the USDecember 13, 2013The Václav Havel Library Foundation was an organizer of bringing Laterna Magika’s production of Václav Havel: Anticodes to the United States. With performances in Miami, Washington, DC, and in New York, the touring production was an enormous success! For more information about the Anticodes production, please visit Bohemian National Hall’s …
NewsWilliam Luers Interviewed in TydenDecember 2, 2013VHLF Advisory Board member William Luers was featured in this week’s edition of the popular Czech weekly news magazine, Týden. In an article entitled “Štrougal, Havel, Chňoupek and Boars,” Luers discussed his experience as Ambassad1or to Czechoslovakia (1983-1986) and his relationship with many of the key players in the final years …
EventsHavel and His EraOctober 10, 2013The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation, in partnership with the New York Public Library and Columbia University’s W. Averell Harriman Institute & Institute of East Central Europe, organized a conference at the New York Public Library entitled Havel and His Times. The event brought together leading archivists and scholars to discuss …
NewsVHLF President Martin Palouš in the Bush Institute’s Freedom SquareJuly 17, 2013VHLF President Martin Palous helped launch The George W. Bush Institute’s blog Freedom Square as part of the Freedom Collection initiative. The Freedom Collection is an online archive chronicling the stories of dissidents, advocates of democracy, and others who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of freedom. Ambassador Palous’s entry is entitled Dictators and …
EventsBeseda Ball at Bohemian National HallFebruary 23, 2013The Beseda Ball is an annual Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association event celebrating its long tradition of Czech immigrant balls with festivities in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Bohemian National Hall. VHLF was a partner in this year’s Ball and it was a smashing success! Hope to see you …
EventsJiří Stivin Trio in Miami and New YorkJanuary 21, 2013VHLF held an event on February 8th at the De La Cruz Contemporary Art Space in Miami, Florida in honor of Václav Havel and the Václav Havel Center for Human Rights & Diplomacy at Florida International University. A reception and gallery tour followed by a private concert by Czech musical legend, Jiri …
EventsHavel: President, Citizen, ArtistNovember 15, 2012The Václav Havel Library Foundation, in partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, held a program honoring President Havel entitled “Havel: President, Citizen, Artist” at the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC on November 15th. The evening’s speakers included VHLF Advisory Board Co-Chair and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, VHLF Advisory Board …
EventsThe Lady of Burma comes to Washington – at lastSeptember 21, 2012Source: The Freedom Collection www.freedomcollection.org / By James K. Glassman Yesterday in Washington, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi stood in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to accept the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. The award had been waiting for Suu Kyi since 2008, when …
EventsEnsuring Havel’s Legacy, at NYUMay 8, 2012Following the May 7 Celebrate Havel event at Lincoln Center, The Foundation for a Civil Society, the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, the Czech Center New York, and the Havel Library in Prague held a seminar entitled “Ensuring Havel’s Legacy”at New York University. The seminar …
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 …
EventsNew York Encounters January 18, 2014 VHLF President Martin Palouš spoke at the January 18th New York Encounters event at Manhattan Center in New York. Palouš’s talk was entitled “Václav Havel: Champion of the Heart, Builder of a Nation.”
NewsBarcelona Unveil’s Espai Havel January 15, 2014 HLF Advisory Board member William Shipsey joined Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, and Karel Schwarzenberg to dedicate “Espai Havel” on February 15th. Espai Havel (Havel’s Place) is located in Parc de la Ciutadella next to the Catalan Parliament building. Barcelona is the third city worldwide to install a Havel’s Place …
NewsWendy Luers Announced as Interim Executive Director of VHLF January 1, 2014 Wendy Luers, the Vice-Chair of the VHLF Board of Directors, was announced as Interim Executive Director. Mrs. Luers has great experience from leading nonprofit organizations promoting civil society in Eastern Europe. She was a close friend of Vaclav Havel since the 1980s and was involved in many decisive political and …
NewsBill Shipsey at the Unveiling of Dublin’s Havel’s Place December 15, 2013 VHLF Advisory Board member William Shipsey helped launch Dublin’s “Havel’s Place” memorial. The memorial is located in St. Patrick’s Park, next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn was joined at the ceremony by former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Ambassador to Ireland Tomaš Kafka, and …
Events“Václav Havel: Anticodes” in the US December 13, 2013 The Václav Havel Library Foundation was an organizer of bringing Laterna Magika’s production of Václav Havel: Anticodes to the United States. With performances in Miami, Washington, DC, and in New York, the touring production was an enormous success! For more information about the Anticodes production, please visit Bohemian National Hall’s …
NewsWilliam Luers Interviewed in Tyden December 2, 2013 VHLF Advisory Board member William Luers was featured in this week’s edition of the popular Czech weekly news magazine, Týden. In an article entitled “Štrougal, Havel, Chňoupek and Boars,” Luers discussed his experience as Ambassad1or to Czechoslovakia (1983-1986) and his relationship with many of the key players in the final years …
EventsHavel and His Era October 10, 2013 The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation, in partnership with the New York Public Library and Columbia University’s W. Averell Harriman Institute & Institute of East Central Europe, organized a conference at the New York Public Library entitled Havel and His Times. The event brought together leading archivists and scholars to discuss …
NewsVHLF President Martin Palouš in the Bush Institute’s Freedom Square July 17, 2013 VHLF President Martin Palous helped launch The George W. Bush Institute’s blog Freedom Square as part of the Freedom Collection initiative. The Freedom Collection is an online archive chronicling the stories of dissidents, advocates of democracy, and others who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of freedom. Ambassador Palous’s entry is entitled Dictators and …
EventsBeseda Ball at Bohemian National Hall February 23, 2013 The Beseda Ball is an annual Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association event celebrating its long tradition of Czech immigrant balls with festivities in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Bohemian National Hall. VHLF was a partner in this year’s Ball and it was a smashing success! Hope to see you …
EventsJiří Stivin Trio in Miami and New York January 21, 2013 VHLF held an event on February 8th at the De La Cruz Contemporary Art Space in Miami, Florida in honor of Václav Havel and the Václav Havel Center for Human Rights & Diplomacy at Florida International University. A reception and gallery tour followed by a private concert by Czech musical legend, Jiri …
EventsHavel: President, Citizen, Artist November 15, 2012 The Václav Havel Library Foundation, in partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, held a program honoring President Havel entitled “Havel: President, Citizen, Artist” at the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC on November 15th. The evening’s speakers included VHLF Advisory Board Co-Chair and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, VHLF Advisory Board …
EventsThe Lady of Burma comes to Washington – at last September 21, 2012 Source: The Freedom Collection www.freedomcollection.org / By James K. Glassman Yesterday in Washington, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi stood in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to accept the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. The award had been waiting for Suu Kyi since 2008, when …
EventsEnsuring Havel’s Legacy, at NYU May 8, 2012 Following the May 7 Celebrate Havel event at Lincoln Center, The Foundation for a Civil Society, the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, the Czech Center New York, and the Havel Library in Prague held a seminar entitled “Ensuring Havel’s Legacy”at New York University. The seminar …