History of Exchange
Prague, Czech Republic Chicago’s Sister City Since 1990
Co-Chair: Edward Dellin Co-Chair: Joe Vosicky
1990
June Focus: Signing Agreement Mayor Richard M. Daley signed a Sister Cities agreement with the Mayor of Prague, Jaroslav Koran.
1991
Focus: Culture Three City of Prague officials, including Mayor Jaroslav Koran, Deputy Mayor Exner, and John Allison, attended the Sister Cities International Conference. Mayor Koran served as head judge of the "Poem for Prague" competition, in which Chicago poet Cindy Salach won a trip to Prague, where she served as Chicago's cultural ambassador.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted artist Magdalena Jetelova, whose work was included in the Chicago Cultural Center exhibition, "Sowers of Myth."
Focus: Culture An exhibition of photographs on Chicago Blues opened in Prague in March, and an exhibition entitled "New Chicago Skyscrapers," organized by the Chicago Athenaeum, traveled to a number of Eastern European cities, including Prague.
Focus: Culture The Chicago Athenaeum presented an exhibition titled "The City of Prague"- a collection of works by Prague artists. The exhibit was on display at Chicago's Santa Fe Building, in cooperation with the City of Prague, Mayor Jaroslav Koran, the Museum of the City of Prague and Zdenek Mika, Director of the Museum.
Focus: Education A historic educational exchange between Prague's first independent high school and Chicago's Latin School was developed under the guidance of Prague Committee Chair, Emma Barborka.
Focus: Government Following the Sister Cities International Conference, the Prague Committee hosted the Czech and Slovak National Councils during the Chicago portion of its tour of the United States. The highlight of the tour was a visit to the headquarters of Motorola.
1992
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee presented the film The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, which showed historical footage of the event.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee presented "Czechoslovakia Today: Breaking Up is Hard to Do," a lecture by a prominent Czech journalist.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee presented a lecture and slide presentation on "Art, Architecture and Culture in Prague."
June Focus: Government Mrs. Daley visited Prague to meet with many city representatives and tour the city.
1993
January Focus: Economic The Czech Ambassador to the United States, Michael Žantovský, visited Chicago. He was hosted at a reception at the Art Institute and private dinner at the Carlton Club, which was attended by Mayor and Mrs. Daley and CEOs of 30 companies interested in business with the Czech Republic.
April Focus: Culture Works of American artist Barbara Crane were exhibited in Prague.
May Focus: Culture Painter Jiří Sopko participated in the International Terminal Mural Project at O'Hare International Airport.
Focus: Government The Prague Committee hosted four members of the Czech Parliament during their visit to Chicago.
Focus: Government Dr. Ivona Raimonova, Curator from the Office of the President of the Czech Republic, visited Chicago.
Focus: Government Carol Greene of Chicago Sister Cities International delivered an invitation to President Vaclav Havel while in Prague.
1994
Focus: Government The Prague Committee co-sponsored a luncheon honoring President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic. More than 500 guests attended the event at Chicago's Navy Pier, which was co-hosted by the U.S. - Czech Chamber of Commerce and the law offices of Altheimer & Gray. The purpose of this historic visit (the first since the fall of Communism) was to reach out to Chicago's Czech expatriates and foster economic and cross-cultural ties between the two countries.
September Focus: Legal Professor Michael Seng, of the John Marshall Law School (JMLS) in Chicago, organized a Symposium, “Freedom of Expression and Press,” at Masaryk University Law Faculty (MULF) in Brno, Czech Republic, which included: Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde; Bernard Judge; Editor and Vice President of Chicago Law Bulletin Publishing Company; and John Marshall Professors Michael Polelle, Robert Johnston and Michael Seng. MULF and JMLS honored Chicago attorney John Drost, father of George Drost, Honorary Consul General for the Czech Republic and a member of the Prague Committee.
1995
Focus: Culture The Chair of the Prague Committee, Emma Barborka, attended the dedication of the National Czech Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Prague Committee is one of the founding contributors.
Focus: Culture Czech Ambassador Michael Zantovsky was a member of the reception committee for an evening of Czech music by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Czech maestro Zdenek Macal.
Focus: Culture A sculpture exhibit by Czech artist Ales Vesely was displayed at the "International Currents" Gallery. The exhibit was a cooperative effort of the Prague Committee and the John David Mooney Foundation.
Focus: Economic Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus visited Chicago and the US-Czech Chamber of Commerce co- sponsored a business breakfast.
Focus: Government Miroslav Balek, Head of Environment Department of Prague District 6 met with his City of Chicago counterparts, representatives of the Chicago Park District, and representatives of other public and private partnerships.
1996
April-November Focus: Culture The Prague Committee assisted with publicity for the Golden Prague Chamber Music series being held in the Chicago area.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee assisted with publicity for In the Shadow of Memory, a documentary film on the 50th anniversary of the destruction of the Czech town of Lidice during World War II. The film was produced by Jerri Zbiral and Alan Teller, a member of the Prague Committee.
November Focus: Legal The Bohemian Lawyers Association of Chicago hosted Hon. JUDr. Jaroslav Fenyk, Deputy Prosecutor for the Czech Republic; several members of the Prague Committee attended.
1997
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee assisted Rabbi Secher of Makom Shalom, Chicago’s first Jewish Renewal Community, to welcome Marketa Pacovska to Chicago. Ms. Pacovska was invited to Chicago to help dedicate a restored Holocaust Torah from Podivin, a town outside Prague. She was the last survivor of the Holocaust from Podivin.
Focus: Economic The Deputy Mayor of Prague and the Head of the International Department came to Chicago for Czech Days at the World Trade Center. Their visit coincided with the visit of the Czech Minister of Commerce, who was in Chicago to officially open the Czech Trade Center.
1998
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted Czech artist Irena Velková in Chicago.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee provided assistance to a sculptor and curator from Prague participating in the International Sculpture Conference in Chicago.
Focus: Culture The Downtown Thursday Night program featured Prague.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted a reception showcasing Czech artist Scarlet Nikolska.
Focus: Culture The Prague Chamber Orchestra performed at the University of Chicago.
Focus: Culture A World in a Weekend featured Prague.
Focus: Economic Prague Committee Members led an integration program for business leaders moving to the Czech Republic.
Focus: Education The Homework Show on local television featured Prague.
1999
Focus: Culture Prague Committee member Anne Baruch hosted a private viewing of a Czech photography exhibit in her home.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted a cocktail party and viewing of artwork of Czech painter Scarlett Nikolska.
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted a private reception and fundraiser for the opening of “Czech Photography of the 1990s” at the Chicago Cultural Center. Dr. Ivan Dubovicky, the Czech Embassy Cultural Attaché, attended the evening.
Focus: Culture Twelve-year-old Czech piano prodigy Lukáš Vondráček was featured at the Dame Myra Hess Concert organized by the Prague Committee.
Focus: Medical & Social Service The Prague Committee Chair met with Czech Republic’s First Lady Mrs. Havel to discuss a collaborative medical exchange project.
2000
March 8 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted internationally acclaimed Czech pianist, Radoslav Kvapil, who performed a free piano recital at the Chicago Cultural Center for a crowd of 120. Widely considered the most important Czech pianist and finest exponent of Czech piano music, Radoslav Kvapil has performed in major festivals for radio and television networks in Europe, Japan and the United States for a number of years. Kvapil’s March 8 concert included pieces by Chopin, Dvořák and Smetana, among others.
Focus: Medical & Social Service The Prague Committee initiated a Physicians Exchange program with Charles University Hospital, Department of Neonatology, and Motol Hospital, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in Prague and Children’s Memorial Hospital, Rush Presbyterian Hospital, and St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. The Neonatology Department treats most premature births in the Czech Republic and Motol Hospital is the only pediatric bone marrow transplant ward in the Czech Republic.
Focus: Medical & Social Service The Prague Committee held a fundraiser for its Physicians Exchange Program.
2001
Focus: Culture The Prague Committee presented a reading from a new translation of the Czech classic “Good Soldier Švejk” by its translator at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Focus: Culture The Printer's Row Book Fair featured Prague and included a reading by renowned author Arnost Lustig, who also participated in a panel discussion on Czech literature in translation.
Focus: Government Mayor Kasl came to Chicago to meet with Mayor Daley to discuss the continuing support of the Prague Committee. Mayor Kasl met with the Anti-Graffiti Coordinator and the Managing Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Streets and Sanitation to learn more about Mayor Daley's Anti-Graffiti programs. His focus on law enforcement included a tour of the 911 center and the "Beyond the Rhetoric" international anti-crime conference. Mayor Kasl gave a lecture to promote Prague and the Czech Republic as a place of business and investment opportunity at the Mid-America Club.
Focus: Medical & Social Service Building on the first Physicians Exchange visit to Chicago, medical professionals from Children’s Memorial Hospital, Rush Children’s Hospital and University of Chicago Children’s Hospital participated in a reciprocal program in Prague. Physicians observed in the corresponding departments in two hospitals in Prague, including the Second Medical Faculty of Charles University Hospital.
Focus: Medical & Social Service Three doctors from Chicago, participating in the medical exchange with Prague, attended the International Pediatric Leukemia Conference.
Spring Focus: Culture The Prague Committee organized the concert of Czech jazz singer, Eva Svobodova in Chicago. Ms. Svobodova performed jazz in Czechoslovakia when performance of jazz music was discouraged by the Communist regime. In 1999, Ms. Svobodova released a recorded collection of Jewish folk songs that she dedicated to her mother. Her concert featured selections from her new album as well as jazz standards
2002
March 5-8 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee assisted MCA Director of Performance Art, Peter Taub, with meetings in Prague.
August 21 Focus: Culture A welcoming picnic was held for the bands of the Czech & Slovak Rock Festival. This picnic and tour of Chicago was held in conjunction with the visit of over 60 rock musicians who are participating in the Czech & Slovak Music Festival in Yorkville.
August 22 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee organized the performance of Czech pop star Miro Zbirka at a free concert at Daley Plaza as part of the Under the Picasso program.
October 22 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee hosted a welcoming dinner for Drs. Ruffer and Sedlacek, who are participating in the Third Annual Physicians Exchange Program.
October 23 Focus: Culture Famed Czech classical pianist Radoslav Kvapil performed at the Chicago Cultural Center.
March 31-April 2 Focus: Economic The Czech Prime Minister Zeman, the Czech Ambassador to the U.S., the Trade Minister and a delegation of 40 visited Chicago for a series of meetings.
April 1 Focus: Education Mrs. Zemanová, wife of the Czech Prime Minister, was hosted by Alcott Elementary School, a new school participant in the Sister Schools Abroad Program.
October 15-November 9 Focus: Medical & Social Service As part of the annual Physicians Exchange Program, the Prague Committee organized the visit of Dr. Ruffer and Dr. Sedlacek to participate in a medical exchange with several hospitals in the Chicago area.
2003
May Focus: Education An essay contest was held for students in the Chicago and Prague Sister Schools Abroad program. Students were asked to write about their City or their Sister City and essays were judged by a panel of Prague Committee judges and educators.
December Focus: Culture & Education The Prague Committee purchased a vacuum table for Municipal Library in Prague that will be used to repair books damaged in the August 2002 floods. Over the course of a year, the Prague Committee collected over $15,000 in funds toward the restoration of manuscripts and books damaged by the flooding.
2004
July 29-30 Focus: Culture The Mayor of Northbrook, IL, Mark Damisch, gave piano concerts in several locations in Prague to raise money for charities in the Czech Republic and as part of his continuing good-will tour.
August 7 Focus: Culture In honor of the 100th year anniversary of the death of Antonin Dvorak, the Prague Committee and American Sokol held a reception at the Ravinia Festival.
October 12-13 Focus: Business The Prague Committee worked in collaboration with Czech Trade Chicago to facilitate the visit of six IT companies from the Czech Republic to Chicago. A workshop for the delegates was held in the Cultural Center on October 12.
November 10, Focus: Culture Internationally acclaimed Czech classical pianist Radoslav Kvapil performed works from Dvorak, Schumann and Liszt at a free concert at the Chicago Cultural Center.
2005
April 7 Focus: Culture In collaboration with the School of the Art Institute, the Prague Committee hosted a reception in honor of the Richard Willenbrink, director of the School of the Art Institute’s program in Prague. The reception was held at the house of Mary Cullen, a collector and supporter of Czech art.
May 5 Focus: Culture In collaboration with Czech Invest, Czech Trade, the Prague Committee was a co-host of a reception to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Czech Republic joining the EU. Focus was on business development between both countries.
September 28 Focus: Medical & Social Service The Prague Committee hosted a breakfast for 24 world leaders in the global struggle against bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases at the International Bar Association Conference in Prague. This breakfast preceded the panel, “Anthrax, Sars and Bioweaponry: Is Globalization Bad for Your Health?”
October 13 Focus: Culture Internationally acclaimed Czech classical pianist Radoslav Kvapil performed works from Dvorak, Schumann and Liszt at a free concert at the Chicago Cultural Center.
2006
July - September Focus: Culture IIT curated and hosted an exhibition on the Villa Műller by the architect Adolph Loos. This exhibition was presented by the Villa Műller Museum, the City of Prague, and the Prague Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program. The Prague Committee hosted the opening reception, Wednesday, July 12. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Prague Committee worked with ITT to host a series of architectural lectures and additional programming.
September 15 Focus: Culture The Field Museum mounted an exhibition on Gregor Mendel and worked with the Prague Committee to promote it among the Czech-American community. Unraveling Mendel´s Legacy” was a lecture about Gregor Mendel by Simon Mawer. Simon Mawer is the author of the exhibition´s companion volume Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics. Following the lecture he was available for a book signing. This lecture was hosted by the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program.
September 19 The Prague Committee co-hosted a reception for newly appointed Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Richard Graber. The committee has donated $1,000.
October 10 Focus: Culture Film viewing will be continued with a discussion and autographs by Czechomor, the folk-rock band featured in the film. Deeply rooted in the village music of their native Czech Republic, they have succeeded in bringing ancient folk songs to broad audiences both at home and abroad.
October 26 Focus: Culture Concert of Bonifantes -Boy’s Choir. The program will include music of Antonin Dvořák, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Petr Eben, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Giacomo Puccini and others.
November 6 Focus: Culture U.S. premiere “Citizen Vaclav Havel Goes on Vacation” with a special guest Jan Novak. This 77-minute documentary recreates a trip around Czechoslovakia that its future president Vaclav Havel took in 1985 when he was still the country’s most prominent dissident. The movie tells a story about the former President of Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. Jan Novak, author of the movie, is also the author of the well-known book on brothers Masin, members of the military resistance group against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The event organized by the Consulate General in cooperation with the Prague Committee.
November 12-13 Focus: Education The symposium marks the 80th birthday of the renowned Czech writer, filmmaker, and Holocaust survivor Arnost Lustig. The University of Illinois at Chicago and the Chicago Sister Cities International Program are proud to celebrate Lustig’s contributions to global culture with a program of films and presentations by scholars from Europe and the United States. This program was presented by The Jewish Studies Program, the Department of Slavic and Baltic Language and Literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Prague Committee and the Petach Tikva Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program.
2007
February 14-17 Focus: Government As a follow up from Mayor Bem’s visit to Chicago last June, a delegation focusing on emergency and crisis management from Prague City Hall was in Chicago. While in Chicago, the group had an in depth tour of the 911 Center, meetings with the Chicago Police Department and Fire Academy and participated in public health emergency preparedness seminar.
May A presentation of Tony Award-Winner Tom Stoppard’s Play, “Rock ‘n’ Roll” was performed at the Goodman Theater.
June 25-29 Focus: Government Mayor Bern visited Chicago to attend Prague Days.
June Focus: Culture The end of June saw the close of a month-long celebration of the Sister City relationship between Prague and Chicago. Prague Days in Chicago kicked off on June 5th with Prague highlighted during the Sister Cities International Festival on Daley Plaza and closed with the successful visit of Mayor Bem of Prague, the Golden Prague Gala and the rededication of Cermak Road. Czech culture in Chicago was celebrated with a series events focusing on music, film, tourism and art.
June-October Focus: Art An exhibition of photographs by the late Bohumil "Bob" Krcil opened in Prague at the Municipal Gallery "U Prstenu" ( Galerie Hlavniho Města Prahy v palaci "U Prstenu" ). The exhibition was made possible by a loan of original photographs from the private Chicago-based archive, provided through the Prague Committee of CSCI. The exhibition featured a representative monograph of Krcil's work and a video document both in English and Czech language. The participation of the Prague Committee has been acknowledged on the invitation cards and in the book. It is anticipated that the exhibition will be shown next year in the USA.
August 5 Focus: Government The Prague committee hosted a reception for the U.S ambassador to the Czech Republic, Richard Graber at Klaus Restaurant.
November 19 Focus: Government Chairman of the Prague Committee, Duke Dellin and International Program Manager, Danya Chazan returned after a successful trip to Prague. Both participated in a series of meetings that solidified the Prague and Chicago relationship. Chazan participated in a seminar on Foreign Policy Priorities in the Threshold of the 21st Century targeted for International Affairs Department representatives from partner cities of the City of Prague. Participating cities included: Ljubljana, Torino, Vienna, Nürnberg, Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Paris, Chicago, Riga, Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, Belgrade, Zagreb, Hamburg and Jerusalem.
2008
February 14-17 Focus: Government As a follow-up from Mayor Bem’s visit to Chicago last June, a ten-person delegation focusing on emergency and crisis management from Prague City Hall was in Chicago. While in Chicago, the group had an in-depth tour of the 911 Center, meetings with the Chicago Police Department and Fire Academy, and participated in public health emergency preparedness seminar.
March 22- 31 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee supported Chicago’s Elmhurst College Jazz Band tour of the Czech Republic.
April 11 Focus: Business The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program, Chicago Chapter of the Czech North – American Chamber of Commerce and CzechInvest hosted, Czech economy in the European context - Perspectives by Jan Macháěek, editor of Hospodářské noviny, the most important daily economic newspaper in the Czech Republic.
The event featured a question and answer session and information on business and investment opportunities in the Czech Republic by Otto Masek, President of the Chicago Chapter of the CNACC and Bob Frelich, Director of CzechInvest Chicago.
April 25 Focus: Business The Prague Committee co-sponsored the 9th Annual Czech Cultural Workshop, an international conference on scholars in Czech studies.
May 13 Focus: Culture The Hon. Marek Skolil, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, John W. Boyer, Dean of the College and Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor of History, University of Chicago, and the Prague Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program hosted the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Lecture on Democracy by Hon. Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Chicago's contribution to an Independent Czechoslovakia.
June 23-29 Focus: Government A delegation from Prague, Czech Republic, was in Chicago for a best practices exchange. Their key interests were the city’s landscaping, green areas, parking management programs, street design programs, urban highway program, as well as integrated systems involving all security services.
August 24 Focus: Film Commemorating 40 years of the Prague Spring of 1968 and Occupation of Czechoslovakia the Counsel of General of the Czech Republic in Chicago Marek Skolil in cooperation with Facets Multimedia, Inc. and Prague Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program invited guests to a cocktail following the presentation of the documentary film “1968”.
September 3 Focus: Fundraising The Prague Committee for “Swing for Iowa” was a solidarity event that helped the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library that were victims of the Iowa floods. Guests enjoyed golf challenges for golfers and for non golfers in a relaxing setting with the beautiful scenery of the private Riverside Golf Club, providing artistic views of the perfect golf swing as captured by the artist Jan Schovanek. Silent and live auctions and raffle and other challenges were a part of the evening.
December Focus: Education The Education Section of the Prague Committee collaborated with the Mexico City Committee for a book donation at Orozco Academy in Pilsen. Author and 2003 MacArthur Fellowship recipient, Peter Sís, flew in from New York through his friendship with Czech Consul General Marek Skolil. He donated hundreds of copies of the Spanish-language edition of his book, “Madlenka,” to the school. The Czech- born illustrator and author made a presentation to the student body and met with older students afterward.
2009
May 15 Focus: Theatre The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program presented Tony Award Winner Tom Stoppard’s Play, “Rock’n’Roll”. Following a record breaking run on Broadway and in London’s West End, Rock’n’Roll made its way to Chicago. A pre-screening reception was held at Petterino’s.
May 21 Focus: Lecture The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International hosted “Homage to a Great European: Sir Nicholas Winton”, with keynote speaker, Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic to Philadelphia, Peter A. Rafaeli. A cocktail reception was held at the beginning of the talk, with a screening of Matej Minac’s film “The Power of Good” that followed. Free optional tours of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center were also available upon reservation.
June 4 Focus: Music The Chicago Symphony Orchestra presented Opening Night of the Dvooak Festival. A post concert reception was hosted by the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and immediately followed the performance. All season long, the CSO’s “Echoes of Nations” series featured music that echoed the sounds and colors of nations from around the world, cumulating in a three week Dvooak Festival, led by Sir Mark Elder.
September Focus: Education Four students from Nad Aleji Gymnazium visited Chicago for a cultural tour of the city.
September 3 Focus: Fundraising On September 3rd, 2009 the Prague Committee held an event for “Swing for Iowa” which was an event to help National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library who was the victim of the Iowa floods. Included were golf challenges, and silent and live auctions. The proceeds went to support the rebuilding of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.
October Focus: Medical Physicians visited Chicago for a public health exchange with the International Collaborative for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (ICPHEP).
October Focus: Education Walter Payton College Prep participated in an educational exchange with 16 students and three teachers from Nad Aleji Gymnazium in Chicago. Highlights of the visit included a presentation on the Velvet Revolution as well as an event honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Iron Curtain.
October 1-4 Focus: Medical Dr. Pavel Stursa from the Nemocnice Na Homolce (Hospital) participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium – Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
November Focus: Film Chicago premier and presentation of the Czech documentary “Citizen Havel.”
November Focus: Lecture “Remembering the Velvet Hurrican” lecture celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.
December Focus: Culture Leoš Janáček’s KATYA KABANOVÁ performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
December Focus: Government The Honorable Tomáš Chalupa, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman of Prague and Mayor of Prague
2010
January 28 Focus: Arts & Culture The opening reception for the exhibitions 50% Grey: Contemporary Czech Photography Reconsidered and Recent Acquisitions of Czech Photography from The Baruch Foundation on January, 28, 2010, were held at the Museum of Contemporary Photography. A tour of 50% Grey was hosted by curators Karel Císař and Karen Irvine and exhibiting artist Markéta Othová from Prague. In conjunction with 50% Grey, the MoCP highlighted works from the Baruch Collection of Czech photography, which were gifted to the museum in 2009. This exhibit brought together the work of six contemporary Czech photographers (two of whom work collaboratively), all of whom reflect on the varied materials of photography and find poetic resonance in a lack of obviously-poetic subject matter.
March 20-29 Focus: Education A group of 17 students from Walter Payton High School, accompanied by their 2 teachers and a Prague Committee member, traveled to Prague to spend a week with their Czech counterparts from Gymnázium Nad Alejí.
May 25 Focus: Arts & Culture The life and work of the great Bohumil Hrabal, one of the best Czech writers of the 20th century was celebrated in a special evening. In addition to rare snapshots from Hrabal´s U.S. tour in spring 1989, the program offered personal recollections of his Chicago host Dr. J. Kyncl and the insight of distinguished panelists from various Chicago universities and cultural institutions as well as a screening of excerpts from 3 legendary film adaptations of Hrabal´s novels.
August 13 Focus: Music Dvořák: Requiem - The Grant Park Orchestra provided a rare opportunity to hear Dvořák's richly expressive and passionate choral masterpiece; this work was among the most popular choral works of his lifetime. The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International supported this program through a special evening gathering prior to the concert in Millennium Park.
October 27 Focus: Arts & Culture The opening of an original exhibition, 'Trip to the New World 1902-1903 was held on the occasion of the Czech National Holiday at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago. The event was presented under the auspices of Dana Huňátová, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, presented in cooperation with the Prague Committee of CSCI.
November 13 Focus: Education A group of 17 students and 3 teachers from our Prague Sister School, the Gymnázium Nad Alejí, traveled to Chicago for yet another successful exchange program with Walter Payton High School.
2011
March 23 Focus: Music & Fundraising The Prague Committee and the Consul General of the Czech Republic presented an evening of music from the world-class Smetana Trio from Prague and introduced historic Thalia Hall to Chicago's cultural communities. Proceeds from the evening went to the Foundation for Emerging Artistic Talent (E.A.T.) and the restoration of Pilsen's landmark Thalia Hall.
September 30 Focus: Legal The Bohemian Lawyers Association of Chicago, Illinois’ oldest ethnic Bar Association, celebrated its 100th Anniversary at a Centennial Gala at the Chicago Hilton Hotel. Masaryk University Law Faculty Dean Naděžda Rozehnalová joined John Marshall Law School Dean John Corkery in presenting awards to honor their Law School Exchange.
October 9-15 Focus: Government A delegation of 16 Principles and 5 government officials from our sister city of Prague, Czech Republic visited Chicago for best practices exchanges from October 9-15, 2011. The group was led by the Mayor of Prague 6, Marie Kousaliková, who also serves as the Chairman of Education for the City of Prague. Czech school administrators visited 6 schools and participated in a best practices session with Chicago principals as well as city officials participated in meetings with their relevant counterparts in the City of Chicago.
October 26 Focus: Culture Celebration of the Czech National Day with Dvořák Opera was held at Roosevelt University
December 17-18 Focus: Culture Musicians and choristers from the church choir with those of Czech, Slovak, and Moravian heritage carried out the very first Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass in Chicago. The Prague Committee and First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple along with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic were joining in support of the Czech Christmas Mass performance. Over 1,000 people attended the event.
2012
January 17 – 21 Focus: Culture (Architecture) The Prague Committee co-hosted/sponsored the visit to Chicago of Brno’s UNESCO Villa Tugendhat Head of Office Architect and Chairman of the International Committee and Professor of Architecture (and Modernist specialist) in Chicago for a series of presentations at many locations. The focus of the visit and the presentations was the successful renewal of the UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Cz Rep – after a two-year closure – which brought attention to the architect who had designed the Villa and who thereafter came to Chicago to become Dean of the IIT College of Architecture and who designed the Farnsworth House in Plano (Mies’ final residential design).
May 11 Focus: Culture (Oral Histories Archive) The Prague Committee supported a reception and opportunity to hear oral history archival material at the Oak Park Library, in conjunction with the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library’s oral history project.
July 4 Focus: Democracy Members of the Prague committee are joining over 200 American Sokols and the City of Prague for the “Celebration of Democracy and Freedom” at the Woodrow Wilson Monument in Prague. (Sokol is a worldwide movement that provides fitness and community for individuals and families through physical, educational, cultural and social programs.) The committee assisted in fundraising initiatives for this event, and previously fundraised for the creation of the Woodrow Wilson Monument.
July 11 Focus: Government The Prague Committee hosted a Chicago River cruise reception for Czech Senators and government officials who visited Chicago on their way to the grand opening of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, IA.
October 22 Focus: Government The Czech Minister for Culture and the Minister for Industry and Trade and other Czech government officials visited Chicago.
October Focus: Education High school students from Gymnázium Nad Alejí in Prague visited students at Walter Payton for 8 days in October/November and participated in a variety of educational and cultural experiences. The Walter Payton group will travel to Prague in March, 2013.
December 14, 15 & 16 Focus: Culture Musicians and choristers from the church choir with those of Czech, Slovak, and Moravian heritage carried out Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass for a second time in Chicago. The Prague Committee and First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple along with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic supported the Czech Christmas Mass performance.
2013
March 26-April 3 Focus: Education Eighteen students from Walter Payton College Preparatory High School visited their sister school, Gymnázium Nad Alejí in Prague as part of an ongoing student exchange that began in 2009.
May 14 Focus: Education A school in Prague was named in honor of the late Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak on the 140th anniversary of his birth.
August 5-9 Focus: Culture The 8th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival transformed Daley Plaza into an international village filled with merchants, food, music, and dance from Chicago’s 28 Sister Cities. Performer Omladina Dance Group performed traditional and authentic Czech dance representing the culture and heritage of Prague.
October 26 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee of CSCI and Hon. Dana Huňátová, Consul General of the Czech Republic, hosted a reception to celebrate the National Day of the Czech Republic. Special Guests included Mons. Václav Malý, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague and H.E. Petr Gandalovic, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the U.S.A.
They also welcomed students from Gymnázium nad Aleji and Walter Payton High School who are participating in an International Exchange Project. In addition, two law students from Masaryk University Faculty of Law (MUFL) in Brno who are studying American law at John Marshall Law School (JMLS) this semester were recognized. They are scholarship winners pursuant to a student exchange program established between JMLA and MUFL in 1994.
2014
March 4 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee of CSCI hosted a reception for the Chicago premiere of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s brand new production of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka on Tuesday, March 4. The evening included the opera and a pre-performance wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, along with a performance by Trio Caliente. His Excellency Petr Gandalovič, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States and the Honorable Dana Huňátová, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, attended the event.
March 25 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee of CSCI and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic hosted the opening of the exhibition „America 1951“, cycle of drawings by renowned Czech painter Kamil Lhoták Special guests included Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Harry S. Truman and Hana Mondelli- Lhotáková, grandaughter of Kamil Lhoták.
June 6 Focus: Recognition The Gratias Agit for 2014 was awarded to 13 individuals and one organization by the Czech Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lubomir Zaoralek. We are pleased to announce that Edward Dellin, Co- Chairman of the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, is the only US recipient of this award this year.
The Gratias Agit has been awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the promotion of the good name of the Czech Republic abroad ever since 1997 in appreciation of prominent personalities and organizations developing activities in nongovernmental fields. Along with the increasing role of civic society, this award, too, is becoming an ever more prestigious prize for the voluntary activities of people committed to working for the benefit of the whole society, for the promotion of friendship among nations and for the promotion of the good name of the Czech Republic in the world.
At present, it is the only statutory prize awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
June 18 Focus: Culture The Prague Committee of CSCI and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic presented a reception and presentation with illustrator and writer Renata Fučíková in celebration of her children’s book Antonin Dvořák, His Music and Life in Pictures.
October 10 Focus: Medical Through a generous grant from the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation, a competitive application process awarded 14 clinicians from the 28 different sister cities to Chicago the opportunity to attend Chicago Sister Cities Medical Initiative. Dr. Petra Pokorna from FN Motol Hospital was selected to participate and represent Prague in 2014.
October 25-November 2 Focus: Education A group of students, two teachers and the principal from Prague’s Gymnázium Nad Alejí visited Chicago on Thursday, October 25 to Sunday, November 2.
Gymnázium Nad Alejí is a sister school with Chicago’s Walter Payton College Prep. The students were engaging in a number of activities in Chicago during their time in the city.
On, Monday, October 27, a delegation of Czech senators visited Walter Payton College Prep with Consul General Bořek Lizec and members of the Prague Committee of CSCI. During the visit they observed Principal Tim Devine teaching his Government class, where the students discussed Czech government and the differences between the Czech and US government. Later, the students from Prague’s Gymnázium Nad Alejí gave a presentation to Walter Payton students about the Czech Republic, Prague, important Czechs and their school.
2015
March 24-April 1 Focus: Education From March 24–April 1, students from Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago visited Prague as part of their ongoing school exchange with Gymnasium Nad Alejí. On Tuesday, March 31, they visited the residence of US Ambassador Andrew H. Schapiro, which is known as Villa Otto Petschek, after the first owner. Ambassador Schapiro is a Chicago native and gave the students a history of his own background. Ambassador Schapiro and his wife Tamar Newberger gave the students a tour of the residence and talked about its history.
June 10-15 Focus: Celebration The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, the City of Prague and Prague City Tourism celebrated the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Chicago and Prague with Prague Days Chicago from June 10-15, 2015. This week of celebration of Czech heritage in Chicago and the ties that continue to bind Chicago and Prague featured the mayors of both cities, concerts, exhibitions, a gala dinner and a review of the Czechs who made their homes in Chicago.
Events included: “This is Pilsen: Bohemian Past, Latino Pesent”, Exhibits at Thalia Hall in Pilsen, “Treasured Legacy”: Exhibition of works by Alphonse Mucha & Jarmila Mucha Plocková, Eggnise concert, Golden Prague Gala, Prague Rockfest hosted by Jim Peterik & The Ides of March, a film screening of Vertigo hosted by Kim Novak, “Czech That Film”: Recent cinema of the Czech Republic, and A Heart for Václav Havel Sculpture.
June 15 Focus: Government Mayor Rahm Emanuel welcomed the Mayor of Prague, Adriana Krnáčová, and a Czech delegation to Chicago. Mayor Emanuel and Mayor Krnáčová celebrated Prague Days Chicago 2015 in Chicago and the 25th anniversary of Chicago’s Sister City relationship with Prague. “I welcome Mayor Krnáčová to Chicago and am pleased to continue strengthening our longstanding relationship with our friends from Prague,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Sister city partnerships are about bridging the geography that divides us to build a common future to unite us. The sculpture unveiled today in City Hall will serve as a powerful reminder to all Chicagoans of the values our two cities share. Twenty five years later, our sister city ties with Prague are stronger than ever.”
July 10 Focus: Arts & Culture As part of Prague Days Chicago, artist Viktor Valášek created a mural on 16th Street just west of Carpenter in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in remembrance of the Eastland disaster.
On July 24, 1915, more than eight hundred people perished on the Chicago River during one of the worst maritime catastrophes of all times—the Eastland disaster. Most of the casualties, approximately a quarter of whom were of Czech descent, were working-class immigrants living in nearby neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side. No one was held accountable for this tragedy despite allegations that the owners’ greed led to unsafe conditions on the Eastland.
This mural is a silent commemoration of the many Eastland victims and their families.
October 7-November 2 Focus: Education During the month of October, the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International welcomed two groups of students from Prague participating in the sister school exchanges.
Twelve students, teachers Jana Srpová and Alena Kapounová, and the principle of Academické Gymnázim Štěpánská, Milan Štěrba, arrived on October 7, 2015 and spent ten days in Chicago. Students attended classes at their partner school, Northside College Prep HS, but besides experiencing academic life, they of course also got to enjoy Chicago and visit the most important Chicago landmarks. This was already the fourth exchange between Štěpánská–Norhtside Prep Sister Schools. The partnership was established in 2009 and the exchange takes place every two years. Northside Prep students will travel to Prague next April.
For the seventh time already, students from Gymnázium Nad Alejí in Prague 6 participated in the sister school exchange program with their partner, Walter Payton College Prep on October 23–November 2, 2015. The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International provided not only financial support— sponsoring various sightseeing events—but several committee members took the Prague students into their homes and hosted them for ten days.
2016
May 14 Focus: Culture Chicago Sister Cities International hosted a Eurovision Song Contest viewing party at Old Crow Smokehouse. Since 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has been one of Europe’s most popular television programs and one of television’s longest running music shows. Over 200 people came to cheer on their country.
2018
April 17 Focus: Cultural The Prague Committee commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia with a performance of Dvořák’s New World Symphony by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, performed with Maestro Riccardo Muti. Prior to the performance was a reception which was attended by Mr. Martin Smolek, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Mr. Borek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago.
October Focus: Medical Dr. Jan Dvořák participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium – Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
October 10-22 Focus: Legal A delegation of several members of the Prague Committee participated in the John Marshall Law School (JMLS) Chicago and Masaryk University Law Faculty in Brno, Czech Republic – 25th Annual Exchange, where several Chicago lawyers presented lectures on American law. October 17, 2018, Masaryk University conferred its Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree on JMLS Professor Michael P. Seng, Director of the Exchange Program.
November 4 On November 4 the Prague Committee culminated nearly a year of celebrations surrounding the founding of Czechoslovakia. The event, hosted at the Chicago Symphony Center, featured the Czech Philharmonic playing Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor & Symphony No. 9 in E Minor.
Co-Chairs of the Prague Committee, Joseph Vosicky and Duke Dellin, the Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Bořek Lizec, and dignitaries from the Czech Republic, spoke to the importance of the anniversary in a reception after the concert. The Czech Philharmonic Maestro Semyon Bychkov described music as a liberating force of the human spirit, a sentiment shared across the room of over 100 attendees.
2019
June 23 On June 23 the Prague Committee, in partnership with the Czech Consulate in Chicago, hosted a welcome reception for participants in the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) Annual Conference, this year titled, “Challenges to the Rule of Law in Central Europe and America Today.” Justice Pavel Šimon of the Czech Supreme Court and 65 other participants from Europe, Chicago and around the U.S. attended.
Immediately preceding the reception, Rolf Achilles, an art historian and co-chair of the Hamburg Committee of CSCI, led a walking architectural tour of Dearborn Street for the guests. At the conclusion of the two-day conference, held at The John Marshall Law School, SVU presented the Prague Committee with a $1,000 donation dedicated to the committee’s education exchanges.
September 26 Focus: Cultural As part of the Centennial celebrations of the founding of Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic, the Prague Committee worked with several Czech community organizations to present an art exhibition at Lo Res Brewing in Pilsen. The exhibit was titled, ‘The Good 100: Highlights of the Czech Century’ and ran for two weeks.
October 6 Focus: Cultural In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the Prague Committee of CSCI cooperated with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic to present a performance of Václav Havel’s Audience at the Chopin Theater.
October 11 On October 11, Consul General of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Kantůrek, hosted the small contingency of runners from the Czech Republic who ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for a pre-marathon “carb-loading“ party. There were 10 runners with guests and members of the Prague Committee. Committee members brought signs to be used on Marathon Sunday at the Prague Committee cheering station – one of the signs had a quote from the legendary Czech runner Emil Zátopek along with a photo of Zátopek running. Several of the runners were from Zlín ČR, the town from which Zátopek ran. They identified the race from which the 70-year-old photo was taken. Czechs take their legends seriously!
October
Focus: Medical Dr. Lukas Dostalek of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Charles University in Prague participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium – Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
Focus: Culture Prague Committee members cheered on Czech runners during the Chicago marathon. The committee members stood in front of St. Procopius School.