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One on OneFreddie Botur – Retired NY tennis entrepreneur with deep Czech roots

24-10-2011 13:24 | Ian Willoughby

Freddie Botur, photo: Henri Richter Werner Freddie Botur, who was born Vratislav Botur, fled Czechoslovakia in 1948, shortly after taking part in a student march to Prague Castle aimed at preventing the Communists from seizing power. The ambitious young émigré eventually ended up in New York, where he became a successful developer and owner of tennis clubs, including the well-known Tennisport on the banks of the East River. More

Current AffairsForeign Ministry honours promoters of good name of Czech Republic

17-10-2011 15:43 | Pavla Horáková

Photo: Barbora Kmentová Since 1997, the Czech Foreign Ministry has been honouring those who promote the good name of the Czech Republic abroad with the annual Gratias Agit awards. Last Friday, October 14, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg handed out the awards to thirteen personalities from around the globe to thank them for their outstanding work. More

Current AffairsNew documentary depicts actor Jiří Voskovec’s life in US

06-10-2011 15:53 | Jan Richter

A new documentary that will premiere in Czech cinemas next week depicts the lesser known part of the life of the Czech-born actor Jiří (or George) Voskovec. In his homeland, he is best known as the co-founder and co-star of Prague’s pre-war avant-garde theatre troupe, the Liberated Theatre. Having spent the war in exile in New York, Jiří Voskovec again moved to the US after the 1948 communist takeover of Czechoslovakia. The new film, entitled My Father George Voskovec, follows his daughter Gigi retracing her father’s life, from the difficult beginnings through his career on Broadway and in Hollywood, to his passing away in 1981, at the age of 76. Jan Richter saw the documentary and spoke to its director, Libuše Rudinská. More

Czech HistoryEgon Hostovský, "a European among the sprinklers"

13-09-2011 13:46 | Jan Richter

Egon Hostovský For Czechs, the 20th century was a turbulent time. Independent Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918 only to later fall victim to the two great tyrannies of modern history – Nazism and communism. Many Czechs fled their country during the 20th century so that they could live as free people, and often simply to save their lives. Wednesday marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Egon Hostovský, one of the most distinctive and significant modern-day Czech writers, who fled his country twice, first to escape the Nazis, and later the Communists. More

One on OneEva Eislerová – Czech designer who reached top of jewellery world in NYC

12-09-2011 13:36 | Ian Willoughby

Eva Eislerová, photo: Czech Television The Czech artist and designer Eva Eislerová originally wanted to be an architect. Instead, she became one of the most highly regarded makers of art jewellery in the world, after emigrating to New York in the 1980s with her half-Czech, half-English husband, John Eisler. Today Eva Eisler, as she is known to her collectors, spends most of her time back home in Prague, where she teaches at the metals department at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design. More

Czech LifeMoving across the big pond – Czech programmer Jakub Vrána prepares for his new job at Facebook

10-09-2011 02:01 | Sarah Borufka

Jakub Vrána At a conference in the US, the 33-year-old Czech programmer Jakub Vrána made quite an impression on developers from the well-known social networking site Facebook and became the first Czech to be hired by the company. Now, he is preparing to move across the ocean and set up a new life in California, near San Francisco, where Facebook's headquarters are located. Ahead of his departure from the Czech Republic, he speaks about what he is looking forward to and what he will miss, what the interviewing process was like and which of his projects he thinks caught the Facebook team’s attention. More

PanoramaCzech expats from around the world come to Dobruška to connect with their heritage

25-08-2011 16:49 | Daniela Lazarová

Every summer the north-east Bohemian town of Dobruška turns truly cosmopolitan, opening its doors to Czech language students from around the world. The Czech language summer school organized by Charles University lasts for a month and is specially tailored for Czech expats and people who have developed an interest in the Czech language and culture.  More

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