Edvard Beneš – second president of Czechoslovakia, co-founder of the independent state, but also a figure whose decisions still provoke lively debate today. Was Beneš a brilliant foreign policy maker, or rather a man unable to face the harsh realities of his time? How should we evaluate his decisions at key moments in our history, specifically September 1938 and February 1948? Or his foreign policy orientation towards the "West" – and then Moscow? Were these failures, unavoidable steps, or deliberate political calculations? The discussion will offer an open dialogue between historians about Beneš’s legacy, which remains a subject of controversy and emotion even decades later.

Democracy is facing serious challenges: the rise of populism and extremism, the growing power of oligarchs and transnational corporations, aggressive undemocratic regimes and turbulent developments in information and communication technologies, etc. This situation forces us to ask uncomfortable questions. Is democracy in its current form viable and sustainable? Could freedom and democracy be threatened by the very mechanisms on which they are based? This discussion evening will provide a space for unconventional ideas from beyond mainstream ideological currents. Together, we will reflect on the present state of democracy as well as its future. The debate is being held on the occasion of the launch of philosopher Václav Němec's new book Kacířské eseje o budoucnosti svobody a demokracie (Heretical Essays on the Future of Freedom and Democracy), which takes a critical look at the state of democracy and liberty in the contemporary world from a deeper philosophical and historical perspective – and attempts to assess their future prospects.

​Immediately after the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Czech Academy of Sciences expressed its solidarity with the attacked country, launched a program of direct support for Ukrainian scientists named the Researchers at Risk Fellowship. Shortly thereafter, more than 50 Ukrainian researchers from various fields received this support at the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences. They immediately became involved in Czech and European research projects or continued research they had begun at home. In addition, they acquired new skills and knowledge from Czech science. At the same time, the Institute of Slavonic Studies of the Czech Academy of Sciences launched an initiative to organize regular meetings of Ukrainian scientists, accompanied by lectures in the humanities. This resulted in the publication of a collective monograph entitled Ukrajinská věda žije! (Ukrainian Science Lives!), which contains literary and linguistic studies on artistic translations, the art of cinema, and Ukrainian emigration.

Anna Fodorová, psychotherapist, writer and daughter of famous Prague author Lenka Reinerová, presents her new novel. The story, dealing with family trauma and suppressed memories, takes place between London and Prague during the fall of the communist regime. In the Blood follows the journey of Agáta, who grew up in Prague believing that all her relatives had perished in the war. However, after 20 years in exile, she discovers that someone survived… Agáta’s determination to find her lost relatives quickly turns from excitement into obsession. The reading and discussion will be introduced by Joachim Dvořák from the Labyrint publishing house, which has issued the novel in Czech under the title Vlastní krev.

The Czech Republic is facing a historically low birth rate. Is this trend a result of economic conditions, a lack of available places in kindergartens and schools, and a tough housing market — or does it point to deeper changes in society, values and life priorities? The debate will be moderate by Eva Mošpanová.

The Czech translation of The Art of Ukraine by leading Ukrainian art historian and curator Alisa Lozhkina offers an overview of the development of Ukrainian visual art from the late 19th century through the Soviet era to the post-Soviet period and the beginning of the war with Russia in February 2022. The book represents an important milestone in the historiography of Ukrainian art, as it decolonizes the narrative from the Russian perspective. It highlights Ukraine’s distinctive culture, which it within a broader European context. The launch and discussion will feature Czech Slavic Studies scholar and translator Tomáš Glanc (who penned the introduction to the publication), artist and educator of Ukrainian origin Alice Nikitinová and art historian Milena Bartlová, who specializes in the methodology of art history.

The Story of Mizzima and Myanmar’s Independent Media

A projection, put together by Ida Fárová and narrated by Gabina Fárová, will trace the life and work of Libor Fára from the 1940s until his death in 1988. It will conclude with photographs by Bohdan Holomíček from the legendary celebration of Fára's 50th birthday at his studio in Vinohrady, where a diverse group of people came together for an evening that inspired Josef Topol to write the play Sbohem Sokrate (Goodbye, Socrates). Graphic artists Josefína Karlíková and Zuzana Lednická and graphic designer Robert V. Novák will discuss the charismatic and incredibly industrious artist and his influence on the current generation of artists. The debate will be moderated by Jáchym Topol.

What will decide the elections? What to expect in the final days before the vote? What has campaigning been like? A pre-election podcast edition with František Trojan and Filip Zelenka. For more details visit www.vaclavhavel.cz prior to the event.

We invite you to a screening of a documentary film about the journalistic work of Ivana Svobodová from the weekly Respekt, followed by a discussion on disinformation and fake news. We will talk about how fake news work in election campaigns, the use of emotions and fear, and the journey of Daniel Sterzik (alias Vidlák, or Hick) from the disinformation scene to active politics. Speakers will include investigative journalist Ivana Svobodová, Czech Elves spokesperson and commentator Bohumil Kartous, and psychologist and STEM analyst Nikola Hořejš. Jana Klímová of Czech Radio will chair the discussion.

If you haven’t failed, you haven’t lived. Reflections on an absurd challenge.

Million Moments, an intimate documentary about the Czech Republic’s largest civic movement since 1989, follows the founders of Million Moments for Democracy from the first calls to action to instances of doubt and disillusionment. What do responsibility, courage and faith in truth and love mean today Following the screening, there will be a discussion with director Amálie Kovářová, movement founder Mikuláš Minář and psychotherapist and one-time Charter 77 spokesperson Věra Roubalová Kostlánová. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Veronika Capáková. An evening looking at how Havel’s ideals resonate today, even among young people who have grown up in freedom.

The digital space has become a kind of jungle. Life within it is completely different from anything human society has previously experienced. The information-overloaded digital jungle is ideal for a certain type of predator, offering perfect conditions for hunting prey: they have its trail (data), and know extremely well how to hunt it (algorithms). How can we live in this environment rather than just survive? How can we prepare ourselves? And how about the generations already born into this world? These questions and more will be addressed by Bohumil Kartous, university lecturer and commentator; and neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry Jiří Horáček. The evening will be hosted by Ester Geislerová, actress, artist and curator of the project Sharing Therapy.