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Mutual Inspirations Festival:Sept. 5- Oct. 31

(This article expired 28.08.2014.)

The Embassy of the Czech Republic announces the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2013-Václav Havel, celebrating the life and legacy of the dissident, playwright, and former Czech president, with over 30 events taking place from September 5-October 31, 2013, throughout prestigious venues in the nation’s capital.

For more information about the festival, please visit www.mutualinspirations.org.

The Mutual Inspirations Festival (MIF) is an annual initiative spearheaded by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, focusing on the mutual inspirations between Czech and American cultures and featuring each year an extraordinary Czech personality who has greatly influenced and inspired others through his or her work (MIF 2010-Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, MIF 2011-Antonín Dvořák, MIF 2012-Miloš Forman, MIF 2013-Václav Havel).

Ambassador Petr Gandalovič noted the Czech-American connection of this year's esteemed personality stating, "Václav Havel's unyielding commitment to democracy is reminiscent of America's founding fathers. His life story, which some might compare to his absurd plays, culminated in what one can only view as a truly American happy ending - a former prisoner of consciousness elected to the highest office of his nation. It is this remarkable blend that makes Václav Havel a genuine Czech-American inspiration, an example worth emulating."

Distinguished patrons of the festival include Havel's widow Dagmar Havlová, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. This year's festival also marks the 77th anniversary of Havel's birth, a number of particular significance for Havel was one of the founders of Charter 77, a human rights manifesto criticizing the Czechoslovak government.

The two-month long festival includes events at venues throughout the Washington area, including the National Gallery of Art, Georgetown University, Library of Congress, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Mead Theatre at Flashpoint, Avalon Theater, West End Cinema, among others. Over 30 partners and supporters have united to bring inspiring programs to the public. With over 20,000 visitors in the last two years, the festival incorporates theatrical performances, film screenings, concerts, lectures, and exhibitions - rounding out the many hats Havel wore throughout his life: president, political leader, visionary, spiritual seeker, human rights activist, citizen, dissident, prisoner, playwright, writer, poet, and man.

Highlights of this year's festival include a special memorial dedication called Václav Havel's Place at Georgetown University in honor of the late president; a film program based on the places and people that Havel knew entitled "The Play's the Thing:" Václav Havel - Art and Politics" at the National Gallery of Art; the world premiere of Life in Truth, a new orchestral piece dedicated to Havel by composer Joseph Santo; a special concert performed by the U.S. Army Band and members of the Cathedral Choral Society in tribute to key historical moments in Havel's life; the premieres of theatrical works at local theaters inspired by Havel's "Vaněk" plays as part of the series Havel's Trilogy; a collection of exhibitions by personal photographers of the Czech President, including Bohdan Holomíček, Tomki Němec, and Oldřich Škácha, revealing an intimate portrait of Havel before, during, and after his presidency; and a US-wide film tribute to Havel through the documentary screening of Václav Havel-Prague Castle by director Petr Jančárek in select cities across the United States.

Explore the many colors of Havel's life and the mutual inspirations that continue to transform our world perspective through the array of events coming to DC this fall. Be inspired! For more information, please visit www.mutualinspirations.org.