Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences -SVU- New York Chapter

10/23/2026

Brilliantly moderated by our SVU NY President, Christopher Harwood, Vladimír Dzuro, author, former police investigator, and former head of the UN Investigations Teams, gave a compelling presentation on the complexities and dangers of investigating war crimes.
Drawing from his latest book, "Vyšetřovatel: Zločiny privilegovaných" (The Investigator: Crimes of the Privileged), currently awaiting English translation, he offered unique insights into the pursuit of justice in some of the world's most challenging circumstances. Despite the gravity of the subject, his engaging style and vivid storytelling made for a fascinating and memorable evening.

His previous book is available in English here: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/potomac-books/9781640121959/the-investigator/

Thank you to Karel Smékal, Consul General of the Czech Republic, for his remarks, Jiri Mirovsky for his technical support, and SVU NY colleagues Věra Dvořák and Helena Plavcová for helping make the event a success.

Photos by Suzanna Halsey

10/22/2026

🇸🇰 NEW WEBINAR BY DONATION!

🎙️ THE HIDDEN STORY OF THE SLOVAK KROJ
Discover the stories behind Slovakia’s traditional dress.

📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
🕚 11 AM EST | 5 PM CET
🎙️ With Dr. Jana Kucbelová

The Slovak kroj is one of the most recognizable symbols of our heritage. But have you ever wondered about the stories behind its beautiful embroidery, colors, and details?

How were kroje made? Who created them? What could traditional clothing reveal about the people who wore it?

Join us as we explore the craftsmanship, traditions, and everyday life behind Slovakia’s traditional dress—from how it was made and cared for to how it was passed down through generations.

Whether you remember kroje from family photographs, have inherited one, or simply love Slovak traditions, this webinar is for you!

💬 Say WEBINAR in the comments below, and we’ll send you the registration link!

10/22/2026

TONIGHT at 7pm at Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan!

10/13/2026

Did you know that Martinů wrote over 70 compositions while living in the US during WW2? Tomorrow you have a unique chance to hear some of them and learn more about his work during the panel/concert followed by a reception at the Bohemian National Hall?

The Bohuslav Martinů Foundation presents an evening of music and conversation at Bohemian National Hall.

10/13/2026

On ZOOM
Sunday, October 18 at 11 am PT

Go behind the scenes of the award-winning Czech film Broken Voices (Sbormistr) with its director, Ondrej Provaznik. In English.

The registration link is https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8qwgkub or via a QR code on the flyer.

Go behind the scenes of Sbormistr (Broken Voices) with acclaimed Czech film maker Ondřej Provazník in a special live conversation about his award winning film. Please note that the time is Pacific Standard Time

09/16/2026

Learn Czech at the Czech Center in New York!

Would you like to learn a new language or reconnect with your Czech roots? Start with a semester of Czech. Whether you want to communicate with Czech-speaking family members, chat with locals during a visit to Czechia, build professional connections, or develop advanced language skills, you have com...

06/17/2026

Be sorry if you missed it ...

The Czech Center NY screened an excellent documentary last night about the Czech composer Vitězslava Kaprálová, focusing on a few years of her short-lived life in Paris, where she died in 1940 at the age of 25, leaving behind an impressive body of work. A genius!

The screening was followed by a discussion with the film's director, Petr Záruba, and Robinson McClellan, moderated by Brenda Vongová.

06/03/2026

Do not miss KAPRALOVA!
JUNE 16 at 7 pm

A special screening and discussion
Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan

A documentary film about Vítězslava Kaprálová (1915-1940), a promising Czech composer and conductor in the 1930s, a muse of the composer Bohuslav Martinů. She was also featured in the award-winning TV series Mozart in the Jungle, in 2014 (Season 3, Episode 6, Symphony on Red Tape.)

At the age of twenty-two, Kaprálová left Prague for Paris to study classical music at the prestigious École Normale de Musique. Three years later, she died in France at just twenty-five. In that brief span, she conducted the BBC Orchestra, won the Smetana Prize, and created a body of work that would later reach major concert stages, including the BBC Proms and Carnegie Hall.

05/16/2026

With sadness we share the news that our SVUNY board member, Gabriel Levický, a surreal artist, poet, translator and former dissident in communist Slovakia, passed on May 15, after a long illness in New York City.

05/02/2026