2010
January 28

The opening reception for the exhibitions 50% Grey: Contemporary Czech Photography Reconsidered and Recent Acquisitions of Czech Photography from the Baruch Foundation was held.

2009
May 1
Focus: Theater
The Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program presented Tony Award Winner Top 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

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 Matei 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 Dyooak 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, culminating in a three week Dvooak Festival, led by Sir Mark Elder.

September

Four students from Nad Aleii Gymnasium visited Chicago for a cultural tour of the city.

September 3

Focus: Nationalism
The Prague Committee held an event for "Swing for Iowa" which was an event to help National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library which were victims of the Iowa floods. Included were golf challenges and silent as well as live auctions. The proceeds went to support the rebuilding of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.

October

Physicians visited Chicago for a public health exchange with the International Collaborative for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (ICPHEP).

Walter Payton College Prep participated in an educational exchange with 16 students and 3 teachers from Nad Aleii Gymnasium in Chicago. Highlights of this 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

Presentation of the Chicago premiere of the documentary film "Citizen Havel."

"Remembering the Velvet Hurrican" lecture celebrated for the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

December

A Night at the Opera performance of Janáček’s KATYA KABANOVA at the Lyric Opera of Chicago

Focus: Government
The Honorable Tomáš Chalupa, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman of Prague and Mayor of Prague

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 and 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: Economic Development
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 Macháèek, editor of Hospodáøské 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 Czechlnvest Chicago.

April 25

Focus: Economic Development

The Prague Committee co-sponsored the 9th Annual Czech Cultural Workshop, an international conference of scholars in Czech studies.

May 13

Focus: Culture
The Honorable Marek Skolil, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago and Former U.S. Secretary of State, 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 to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Chicago's contribution to an Independent Czechoslovakia.

June 23-29

A delegation from Prague, Czech Republic, was in Chicago for best practices exchange. Their key interests were the city's landscaping, green areas, parking management programs, street design programs, urban highway programs, 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.

2007

February 14-17

Focus: Government
PRAGUE: 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.   

May

Presentation of Tony Award Winner Tom Stoppard's Play "Rock 'n' Roll" at the Goodman Theater.

June 25-29

Focus: Government
Mayor Bern visits Chicago to attend Prague Days.

June 20 – October 14

Focus: Art
An exhibition of photographs by the late Bohumil "Bob" Krcil opened in Prague at the Municipal Gallery "U Prstenu" ( Galerie Hlavniho Mesta 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 CSCIP. The exhibition features 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.

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.

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 from at trip to Prague. Both participated in a series of meetings that solidified the Prague/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, Jerusalem.

Presentation of the Chicago premiere of the documentary film "Citizen Havel."

"Remembering the Velvet Hurricane" lecture celebration the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

2006
July 12

Focus: Culture
Villa Muller House at IIT
IIT curated and hosted an exhibition on the Villa Műller by the architect Adolph Loos. This exhibition was be 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.
The exhibit was held July 12 through September 30, 2006

September 15

Focus: Culture
Gregor Mendel Exhibit at The Field Museum
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 Chicago-Prague Sister Cities 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 Dvorak, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Petr Eben, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Giacomo Puccini and others.

November 6th

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 of Chicago Sister Cities International Program.

November 12 & 13

Focus: Education
Memory, Migration, and Return. A Symposium in Honor of Arno©t Lustig
The symposium marks the 80th birthday of the renowned Czech writer, filmmaker, and Holocaust survivor Arno©t 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

2005
April 7

Focus: Culture
Working 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
Working 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 is 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.

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: Economic
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.

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.

2002
March 5-8

Focus: Culture
The Prague Committee assisted MCA Director of Performance Art, Peter Taub, with meetings in Prague

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. Zemanova, wife of the Czech Prime Minister, was hosted by Alcott Elementary School, a new school participant in the Sister Schools Abroad Program.

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 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.

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.

2001

Focus: Culture
The Prague Committee presented a reading from a new translation of the Czech classic “Good Soldier Svejk” 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

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, Dvorak 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.

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, also attended.

Focus: Culture
Twelve-year-old Czech piano prodigy Lukas Vondracek 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.

1998

Focus: Culture
The Prague Committee hosted Czech artist Irena Velkova 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
Downtown Thursday Night program featured Prague.

Focus: Culture
The Prague Committee hosted 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.

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 is 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.

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.

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 Chicago-Prague Sister Cities 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. 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/private partnerships.

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.

1993
January

Focus: Economic
The Czech Ambassador to the United States, Micahel Zantovsky, 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.

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 Sister Cities International delivered an invitation to President Vaclav Havel while in Prague.

April

Focus: Culture
Works of American artist Barbara Crane were exhibited in Prague.

May

Focus: Culture
Painter Jiri Sopko participated in the International Terminal Mural Project at O'Hare International Airport.

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.

1991

Focus: Culture
Three City of Prague officials, including Lord 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.

1990
June

Focus: Signing
Mayor Richard M. Daley signed a Sister Cities agreement with the Mayor of Prague, Jaroslav Koran.