During their visit in London, the delegation met with the well-known conductor Semyon Bychkov and talked about the future of the Czech Philharmonic and possible further collaboration. Later in the day Minister Herman was welcomed by Ambassador Sečka at a formal reception at the Ambassador’s residence where they awarded Jonathan Marsden, the long-time Director of the Royal Collection and a keen protector of Czech heritage, the prestigious “Artis Bohemiae Amicis” medal. They thanked Mr Marsden for his generous and altruistic interest in the protection and promotion of Czech cultural heritage in the UK.

During the ceremony Minister Herman told Mr Marsden : “The historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown are grateful for your kind support. You will always be welcomed at our castles, châteaux, and in historical houses as an honourable and very dear guest.”

The Ambassador then joined the Minister and the representatives of the Czech Philharmonic at a BBC Proms concert of the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.

Brief account for the awarding the “Artis Bohemiae Amicis” to Jonathan Marsden:

Immediately after the Velvet Revolution, Jonathan Marsden contacted the cultural heritage bodies in the former Czechoslovakia with an offer to share his experience in maintaining historic buildings and collections. The British specialists in the field very soon uncovered the exceptional quality and range of Czech cultural heritage. Jonathan Marsden and his colleagues mainly shared their expertise in maintenance and presentation of aristocratic houses. Numerous internships in the UK were offered to Czech specialists and the opportunity to build contacts with professionals from countries formerly behind the Iron Curtain initiated a radically new approach to historical installations in Czech castles and chateaux.

The expert help meant that many objects reached a level highly valued on an international scale. Jonathan Marsden later became the Director of the Royal Collection but despite his workload he never ceased to be dedicated to promoting projects of cooperation with our experts in the field of cultural heritage.