The Stories We Tell – interview with Renata Clark

The Stories We Tell: The 2016 European Literature Festival started on April 27. Initiated by the Czech Centre the festival continues until the beginning of June and will introduce more than 50 writers and poets from more than 30 countries. We asked our colleague and Deputy Director of the Czech Centre Renata Clark to tell us more.

This year’s European Literature Night (ELN) is the 8th. From just one evening in the British Library in 2009, the festival has grown to host 21 events across six weeks this year. How did this happen?

Since it’s inception, the European Literature Night has gradually built up its reputation as an important platform for the promotion of European literature in translation. It seemed a shame not to use this potential and the interest of authors, publishers and our partners reaching far beyond the possibilities of a single event. So this year we are extending our activities beyond one night, beyond the walls of the British Library, and even beyond London.  We began by collaborating with London’s Free Word Centre, while  including   cities like Edinburgh and Birmingham in our programme, and then expanded our own range of programming. In addition to our initial high-profile, centrepiece night, there is, for example, an event regarding the European crime novel, while the Translation Pitch, as ever, aims to support the emergence of new translators, seminars and workshops aimed at professionals. The single night, therefore, has inevitably had to be extended, and our new name, as the European Literature Festival, reflects these changes.

More: http://london.czechcentres.cz/news/rozhovor-s-renatou-clarkovou/

Poetry Periscope Launch 3.5.2016

Jiří Kovanda at Pump House Gallery 19.4.2016

The Games Europe Plays

2. - 10.4.2016, The Finnish Institute

Zdeněk Svěrák’s 80th birthday

On Monday 28.3. we celebrated 80th birthday of Czech cultural icon Zdeněk Svěrák by screenings of the Elementary school and singing special birthday song. Thanks Deptford Cinema, Gate Picturehouse and all who came!

Tomas Jamnik - Dvorak with Love

A Czech cellist Tomas Jamnik brought to an audience a brilliant version of Dvorak’s repertoire at Trinity Laban’s Hall.

23.3.2016

I served the King of England.

At the Delfina Foundation on the 19th February, curatorial resident Michal Novotný will host an event with live artist interventions. 

FREE ENTRY RSVP essential: [email protected]

19 Feb 2016: 18:30

http://delfinafoundation.com/

Chemistry of Love

How does our body affect love, and love affect our body? 

At London’s Book Club on February 16th, Dr. Michael Londesborough will demonstrate what it means to be in love proving that when it come to love we seem to be at the mercy of our biochemistry, part of the DNA's strategy to pass on a genetic code.

Time: 7:30pm– 9 pm (doors open at 7pm) Price: £4 in advance, £6 on door + £0.60 handeling Book online

Last Fata Morgana at the International Fashion Showcase

Visit Somerset House from 19th - 23rd February to see the work of leading Czech fashion designers, from the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (AAAD), as part of London Fashion Week.

19 – 23 February 2016 Space G16, West Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA Daily, 10.00-18.00 (last entry 17.15) FREE ADMISSION

DRIFTER

Screening at Picturehouse Central, 20th January, 18:30

A New European Documentary, presented by EUNIC and Open City Docs and initiated by Czech Centre London.

Synopsis:

It’s not easy being an 18-year-old in poverty-stricken rural Hungary. Ricsi dreams of becoming a professional racecar driver but all he’s getting is fines for driving without a licence. As he speeds through life, stealing and running away from police, his single mother and deadbeat father despair. Ricsi craves attention but the girls ignore him as much as his father does.

Drifter was shot over five years and is a fascinating portrait of a restless young man living his life on the edge as he tries to come to terms with growing up.

International Solo Piano Concert featuring Beata Hlavenková and Robert Mitchell

23rd January, 8pm at The Crypt, St. Giles Church.

Hlavenkova's 'Theodoros is an album of boundless musical invention. It never repeats itself, containing diverse, fresh melodies and reaching beautiful and rare places. From the beginning to the end, it is written with a confident hand, great erudition, and a knowledge of a variety of compositional techniques.' - Milan Bator, ostravan.cz

'Pianist Robert Mitchell is one of those musicians’ musicians who leaves your jaw on the ground' - London Jazz News

27/11 - 29/11 the BLANIK Bureau in London

THE MOST BELOVED PRAGUE GANGSTER IN LONDON !!

the guy who effectively manipulates everything from the city’s corrupted politics to the president’s very private life and his team will attend the last day of the @madeinpraguefestival 

WHEN THE CAT COMES_

An unassuming Bohemian village becomes the backdrop for a gloriously goofy fairy tale when a magician visits with his tabby cat, who’s unusually outfitted with sunglasses – when kitty takes the specs off, people change colour according to their inner nature (cowards turn yellow, and so on). The inevitably controversial cat becomes a motivating symbol of truth and candour for an idealist teacher and his boisterous, artistically gifted students (the kids’ vibrant paintings are a delight), but Jasny always keeps the tone light to the point of levitating. A treat.

http://www.timeout.com/london/film/when-the-cat-comes

VOJTĚCH JASNÝ *30/11/1925

A night when THE PICTURES got BIGGER ...