Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association

Home
United States
New York, NY
Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association

Preserving Czech and Slovak culture in New York City since 1891. Talks, theater, art, music, and dance at the Bohemian National Hall on UES.

BBLA was founded in 1891 as an umbrella organization representing approximately eighty Czech and Slovak cultural, educational, and athletic community groups and clubs in New York. In 1896, BBLA commissioned architect William Frohne to build in Yorkville on Manhattan's Upper East Side a new social hall for the growing Czech and Slovak immigrant community. The Bohemian National Hall (Česká národní b

udova) was built two years later. Today, BBLA's member organizations include:

- American Fund for Czech and Slovak Leadership Studies
- Association of Free Czechoslovak Sportsmen
- Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council
- Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, New York Chapter
- Dvorak American Heritage Association
- Sokol New York

BBLA's associate organizations include:

- Vaclav Havel Library Foundation
- Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews
- The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

06/14/2026

A certain kind of extreme links twelve scenes in "Portal" written and directed by Dodo Gombar. It explores relationships, stereotypes, uncertainties, and tensions through language cut to the bone and silence that speaks.

Join us at the 2026 Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival to see this piece in person, on our stage. RSVP https://bit.ly/4efTmkf

Portal (Slovakia): 🗓️ Friday, June 19, 7pm, Bohemian National Hall, UES

06/08/2026

All set! The annual showcase of contemporary Central and Eastern European takes place right here on UES June 16-27. Check out the line up: https://bit.ly/3PzwZOA

05/27/2026

A fabulous feature about Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival - our annual celebration of Central European theater here, on UES. Get ready for the next edition in June! 🥳

Next month’s Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival will offer an NYC showcase to smart, often bleakly comic new work from Central and Eastern Europe.

05/19/2026

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of professor Vlado Simko, BBLA trustee and president of the Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council, an organization supporting the Prague based Comenius Academic Club. He passed away in Bratislava on April 21. We express our sincere condolences to his wife, Mrs. Milena Simko.Vlado shall be greatly missed by many.

Professor Vlado Simko was the president of the Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council and BBLA trustee. He passed away in Bratislava on April 21, 2026. He shall be greatly missed by many.

Address

321 E 73rd Street
New York, NY
10021

Telephone

+12129881733

Website

http://www.bohemianbenevolent.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.