The 1st Presidential Library provides further information regarding the press conference
September 14, 2026
Prague, 14 September 2026: The 1st Presidential Library announces updates to its programme
We present the current composition of the Library’s governing bodies:
Board of Trustees: MgA. DAVID DUŠEK (Chair), MAREK MĚRKA, PHILIP ROLAND STAEHELIN, MICHAEL KOCÁB, Prof. Mgr. MIROSLAV BÁRTA, Dr.
Supervisory Board: MARTIN PALOUŠ (Chair), Mgr. TOMÁŠ ŠÍDLO, JAN BOLEK
Advisory Committee: Jacques Rupnik, Emil Holub, Ondřej Jonáš, Martin Šimečka, Martin Beck, Pavel Feigl
1. The Presidential Library is commencing its autumn operations with cost savings of approximately 1 million crowns per month compared to the original financial plan.
Since 1 September, the archive has reopened to researchers and students, and we are continuously processing and cataloguing new additions to the archive.
The library has produced further copies of its travelling exhibitions; 65 loans of physical or digital exhibitions have been arranged by the end of this year alone. As part of the Havel90 project, exhibitions are being provided to libraries throughout the Czech Republic, to schools and cultural institutions, and also abroad in collaboration with embassies and Czech Centres.
We are seeing increased interest in our educational workshops. In just under two weeks, 45 workshops have already been arranged with schools in and outside Prague. Demand is high; we are also offering afternoon slots at our premises at Ostrovní 13, and our tutors are also visiting schools.
Our focus on young people lies at the heart of our mission; in addition to educational workshops, we are organising discussion forums for students, renewing our collaboration with the University of Economics and Management, and preparing to relaunch our digital projects.
We are launching our traditional Student Essay Competition, and the theme is: ‘Hope is not optimism’ – how to persevere in a world of crises – Havel’s famous distinction (hope as the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of the outcome) is almost tailor-made for today’s generation, growing up amidst climate anxiety, war beyond our borders and an uncertain future. The theme is open to both secondary schools and Year 9 pupils.
The programme for the club evenings is currently being prepared and will be announced in due course. On 5 October, we are organising the Free Academy – the first guest will be Vendula Chalánková, who will give a talk on her work in connection with Václav Havel (for the Na zábradlí Theatre, or her illustrations for Jacques Rupnik’s book *Central Europe Is Like a Bird with Eyes in the Back*). The club’s programme will be put together by a number of prominent figures; Martin Palouš and Michael Kocáb have also confirmed their participation.
As part of the celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of Václav Havel’s birth, we are collaborating with the Prague City Council and are putting the finishing touches to a tram that will be decorated with new graphic designs by Studio Najbrt.
We would like to thank all our supporters and everyone who has offered us their help. We appreciate every bit of support. In connection with our new name, we are developing a new visual identity in collaboration with Petr Krejzek; we will be unveiling our new logo in the coming days.
About the Library
The Václav Havel Library was established in 2004 on the initiative of Václav Havel and in accordance with his vision. Its original founders were Dagmar Havlová, Karel Schwarzenberg and Miloslav Petrusek. In September 2026, the institution’s name was changed to the 1st Presidential Library, Endowment Fund.
According to its founding charter, the Library’s purpose is to preserve Václav Havel’s literary, dramatic and political legacy; to support research and education concerning his life, values and era; to foster the development of civil society; and to create a platform for discussion on freedom and democracy, not only in the Czech Republic.
For further information, please contact:
Marek Měrka, media@vaclavhavel.cz