Czech Centre London

MONUMENT: An Interactive One-Woman Comedy Show

Join us on Tuesday 21st July for this politically urgent and defiantly funny interactive performance blending rap, live comedy and physical theatre.

Inspired by Prague’s Stalin Monument and contemporary migrant labour, Polish-British artist Margot Przymierska interacts with audiences to build a collective theatrical experience exploring power, identity and belonging.

🎫 booking via: https://bit.ly/Monument_21July

🎧 Missed our sold-out discussion on 'Bata's architecture of belonging' (and much more)?

The recording from our panel discussion DESIGNED TO BELING: MODERINSM, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY, which took place on 11th June as part of this year's London Festival of Architecture, is now available as a podcast 👇

https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-2iizy-1ae9376

With Czech Embassy London, Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, Nadace Tomáše Bati, Bata Heritage Centre, Twentieth Century Society, Chybik + Kristof Architects.

📌📅 SAVE THE DATE: 25 June 2026, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Love ?

Don't miss the Opening of our upcoming exhibition
ROBERT VANO: LOVE YOU FROM PRAGUE, the first retrospective exhibition of the work of Robert Vano, one of the most acclaimed photographers of Czech and Slovak origin.

Divided into three standalone parts, the exhibition presents over fifty works spanning fashion photography, male portraits, polaroids and atmospheric images of Prague.

PRIVATE VIEW: Thursday 25h June, 6.30pm - 8.30pm.
Free entry but please register 👇
https://bit.ly/RobertVano_LoveYouFromPrague_PrivateView

Exhibition dates: 26 June - 4 September 2026.
Part of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week.

📷 ARTIST TALK WITH ROBERT VANO
Wednesday 24th June, 7pm

Join internationally acclaimed photographer Robert Vano for a special artist talk exploring his remarkable career across New York, Paris, Milan, and Prague.

Vano will reflect on all aspects of his career and unique life path, from his exile in the late 1960s to working with magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, to his photography, artistic inspirations, and his iconic collaborations.

🎫 Book now: https://bit.ly/ArtistTalk_RobertVano_24June

Did you know that 2026 is an important year for Czech literature?📚 This year, the Czech Republic is the official Guest of Honour at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest book fair in the world!

Which authors should be presented?

The Czech Centres have picked twenty writers who we consider to be relevant in literature both at home and in translation.
Number 4: JAROSLAV HAŠEK

Who is your favourite Czech author?

In partnership with Fakulta designu a umění Ladislava Sutnara ZČU,
Česká centra/Czech Centres.

It was our pleasure to be part of this year’s
London Festival of Architecture presenting our exhibition on the Bata phenomenon ‘Desire to Create’, accompanied by a panel discussion titled ‘Designed to Belong: Modernism, Industry and Community’, which took place last night at the cinema of Czech Embassy London.

Speakers featuring architectural historian Gillian Darley OBE, economic historian Milan Balaban, architect Ondřej Chybík, and John Purkiss from the Bata Heritage Centre explored how architecture shapes our sense of belonging, and much more. Chaired by Sir John Tusa, whose father was the first Manager of the Bata estate in East Tilbury.

Huge thanks to all our panelists for their valuable insights. Special thanks also goes to Thomas G. Bata, the grandson of the founder of the Bata company, Tomáš Baťa, who opened the evening sharing stories from his childhood and running the Bata company. Last but not least, thanks to our attentive and curious audience ✨



With Nadace Tomáše Bati Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně Bata Heritage Centre Twentieth Century Society Chybik + Kristof Architects

📸 by Rebeka Beckie Jurčacková

The iconic British artist David Hockney has passed away, aged 88. 🖤

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jun/12/artist-david-hockney-dies

🕊️ Zdena Mašínová, the daughter of a WWII resistance hero and sister of the controversial Mašín brothers, has died at the age of 92. RIP

👉 Find out more: rozhl.as/kac

🕊️ Zdena Mašínová has died at the age of 92.

The daughter of a WWII resistance hero and sister of the controversial Mašín brothers, her life was deeply shaped by some of the defining events of 20th-century Czech history.

👉 Find out more: rozhl.as/kac

Our exhibition 'Desire to Create: Baťa's Architecture of Belonging' must end this Friday 12th June!
Haven't seen it yet? Pop in this week 10am - 5pm, to learn about Tomáš Baťa's global achievements and guiding principles and their realisation in East Tilbury.
➕ We will have extended hours on Thursday 11th June, when the gallery stays open until 7pm.
Part of London Festival of Architecture. Organised in partnership with Nadace Tomáše Bati and Heritage Centre.