A talk by Dr Barbara Havelkova. While EU directives on anti-discrimination law have been transposed into Czech law, their implementation has been overwhelmingly ineffective in promoting the cause of gender equality. Dr Havelkova examines why this should be so in her recently published book Gender Equality in Law: Uncovering the Legacies of State Socialism. Looking... Read more »

This thriller/ love story reflects - and is critical - of the atmosphere and in particular people's mindset first in normalized Czechoslovakia and then in post-1989 Slovakia. The author and the translator, David Short, discussed the book, read out passages in Slovak and English and answered questions. Here are a couple of quotes: “We hoped... Read more »

A Prague exhibition of rare Czech historical documents, including Vladislav's privilege of 1158, the oldest preserved document proving the existence of the Czech state. Visitors go back in time from modern history until the very beginning of the Czech history. Various media evoke the atmosphere of particular periods, such as video recordings of television news... Read more »

Reminiscences of Edward Einhorn, American theatre director and writer In honour of Vaclav Havel's 70th birthday, at the time of his residency at Columbia University, Untitled Theater Company #61 and other artists and companies from New York and around the USA came together in 2006 to present, for the first time anywhere, the complete plays... Read more »

Following the formal AGM, Roger Aitken, a Forbes contributor and ex-FT staff journalist, delved into the extent of inventions. The Czech and Slovak lands could be said to have punched above their weight when it comes to inventors and their inventions. There is even an old adage - Zlate ceske rucicky a chytre ceske hlavicky... Read more »

Friday 4 May at 7.30pm Prazak String Quartet, Ivan Klansky (piano) Suk - Meditation on the Old Czech Chorale 'Saint Wenceslas' Smetana - Quartet no 1 Dvorak - Piano Quintet Saturday 5 May at noon Prazak String Quartet Suk - Quartet no 1 Smetana - Quartet no 2 Dvorak - Quartet no 10 Saturday 5... Read more »

Tim Beasley-Murray, translator David Short and Slovak author Richard discuss three novels from the country that would have been 100 years old this year but disappeared 25 years ago. £8 tickets (£6 student) are available via Eventbrite (below) and in store.

The premiere of a playful new lyrical collaboration drawing separately from Czech and Lithuanian folk traditions. Iva Bittova is a Czech avant-garde violinist, singer, and composer; her music is a blend of rock and East European music. Lithuanian-American musician, composer and performer, Abraham Brody draws inspiration from rituals, roots and folklore; he combines composition, improvisation... Read more »

The British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES) Czech and Slovak Study Group is marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak state with a Czech and Slovak Study Day held at Cardiff University. Czech and Slovak specialists (including language experts and postgraduate students) from around the UK, together with Czech... Read more »