NEW SPACES FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE

WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT PART OF THE PREMISES OF THE CZECH HOUSE WILL SOON BECOME THE OFFICE OF THE CZECH CULTURAL CENTRE IN BELGRADE, WHICH WILL HELP RAISE CULTURAL DIPLOMACY BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES TO A NEW, HIGHER LEVEL

Cultural diplomacy does have great potential and our embassy carefully prepares the agenda in this field every year. We try in particular to find the best way and meet the needs and interests of local people in order to bring Czech culture closer to them. That is why the Czech Film Festival is one of the traditional cultural events that we organise annually. The Serbian public is very familiar with Czech cinematography, so every year we try to introduce them to some new films.

Apart from the Film Festival, we independently organise concerts and exhibitions, but we also try to support cultural institutions and other organisations in some of their projects.

We always try to prepare something interesting for the youngest too. We’ve organised some very fun and entertaining exhibitions for children over the past several years, and last year we started organising Czech Children’s Day. It is conceptualised as a full day event that gives children an opportunity to read Czech children’s literature and see Czech cartoons, play games or participate in various artistic workshops, and often we like to prepare numerous gifts and rewards for those who participate. Immense potential also lies in scholarships that are part of our educational programme. The young people who return to Serbia after completing their studies in Czechia play a very significant role in terms of spreading the good image of our country in Serbia. Until recently, students from Serbia could apply for the full scholarship programme in the Czech Republic. Today there are yearly grants available for summer school programmes, grants of the Visegrad Fund, but also a number scholarships and grants that are offered by Erasmus, Ceepus etc.

I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS THE DEEPEST REGRET OVER THE TRAGEDIES THAT HAPPENED AND OFFER MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND TO ALL CITIZENS OF SERBIA. WE ARE WITH YOU IN OUR THOUGHTS AND HEARTS

We also take part in activities organised by the EU Delegation to Serbia. This year, in the context of commemorating Europe Day, there was a plan to participate in the Belgrade Night Market together with colleagues from other embassies and to present some of our national products.

I must take this opportunity to express our great pleasure and gratitude for the fact that the Republic of Serbia returned the building of the Czech House in Belgrade to the possession of the Czech Republic. This building has been fully restored and the opening ceremony took place in January, during the official visit to Serbia of President Miloš Zeman. We are delighted that part of its premises will soon become the office of the Czech Cultural Centre in Belgrade, which will help raise cultural diplomacy between our countries to a new, higher level.

Nevertheless, in the context of the tragic events that befell Serbia recently, it is questionable how much cultural diplomacy can be of any assistance in this extremely overwhelming situation. Following the tragic events, everything fell silent, and so did we. We’ve postponed the organising of Czech Children’s´ Day, while the Belgrade Night Market has also been postponed.