Czechoslovak Statehood 1918 / Prague Spring 1968

Czechoslovak Statehood 1918

The Czechoslovak Statehood 1918 exhibit offers a succinct look at the events of 1918, the personages involved in October 28, 1918, and the colorful world of the Czechoslovak Republic between the world wars. Illustrated against the background of the founding of the republic are the fortunes of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires and biographical sketches of the three “forefathers” operating abroad (T. G. Masaryk, E. Beneš, and M. R. Štefánik). Visitors can dive into specific areas of the era of the First Republic and explore international relations as well as the social, political economic, and cultural situation between 1918 and the Second World War.

The Prague Spring 1968

The Prague Spring 1968 exhibition is aimed at familiarizing visitors with the atmosphere of 1960s communist Czechoslovakia and the easing of social tensions, the reforms that began in the autumn of 1967, and the anti-reform pressure exerted by the Soviet Union under Brezhnev against the new leadership of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and its chairman, A. Dubček. It also covers the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968, and its consequences at home and on the international stage. The exhibit takes an unconventional approach to familiarizing visitors with this period of social liberalization and decreased isolation, offering abundant illustrations of the mingling of sociopolitical, and cultural-historical phenomena: beginning with the Expo 58 World’s Fair, through the “golden 60s” in film and music, to the concept of design as a means of international communication.

Organizational Team

• Concept and curator (Czech Centres): Lenka Lindaurová

• Graphic design: Robert Jansa, Petr Bosák

• Interactive presentation: Metamechanics, s.r.o.

• Project manager (Czech Centres): Hana Pištorová, pistorova@czech.cz

Consultants

• PhDr. Josef Tomeš, Ph.D. / historian, Masaryk Institute and Archives of the CAS

• PhDr. Jiří Suk, Ph.D., DSc. / historian and political scientist, Institute of Contemporary History

• PhDr. Petr Koura, Ph.D. / historian, Institute of Czech History at Charles University

Organization

Czech Centres, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Collaborating institutions

Czech Television, Czech Press Agency, Dobrovická muzea, Zdeněk Harapes, Masaryk Institute and Archives of the CAS, The City of Prague Museum, TG Masaryk Museum in Lany, Langhans Prague Foundation, National Film Archive, National Gallery in Prague, National Library, National Museum, National Technical Museum, Museum of Czech Literature, Postal Museum, Slovak National Gallery, Tyršův dům, Museum of Decorative Arts In Prague, Military History Institute Prague, and the Institute of Military History in Bratislava.