May 2 – 3, 2024
Economic Summit
May 2 @ 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
A unique forum for delegations from the USA, Czech Republic and Slovakia building on the consequences of modern history related to the period of WWI, WWII, 1968, 1989 and the recent times, with the participation of Miloslav Stašek, Czech ambassador to the U.S. and Radovan Javorčík, Slovak ambassador to the U.S., will be held at NCSML on Thursday and Friday, May 2-3, 2024. This gathering will provide an opportunity to learn more about the present-day possibilities related to specific industry clusters, university research areas, topics of freedom, democracy and immigration in the concerned states and regions. The ambassadors will be joined by other high level American, Czech and Slovak business leaders, university leaders, state policy makers, local policy makers, governmental representatives, politicians, artists, scholars and educators visiting the area to attend NCSML’s annual Preciosa Gala on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, the Smithsonian Affiliate, which will be recognized and celebrated all year long. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is looking forward to building more Transatlantic partnerships.
May 2, 4 - 8 p.m.
Registration and Pre-Event Networking, 4 – 5 p.m.
Vaclav Havel: From Dissident to President, 5 p.m. • Anderson Gallery
Exhibit Ribbon Cutting with Keynote Address by Dr. Martin Palouš, Director of the Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy at Florida International University, Miami
A Night at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
May 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration, 9-10 a.m. • Rozek Grand Hall
10 a.m.
Welcome Remarks by
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, DC
U.S. Official Representatives
State of Iowa Representatives
City of Cedar Rapids Representatives
Keynote Address by Dr. Jan Svejnar,
Richard N. Gardner Professor of Economics and International Affairs and Director of the Center on Global Economic Governance at Columbia University, New York
Debi Durham,
Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), Des Moines
Doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe – Brno as a Gateway
Jan Kubata, CEO, BVV, Brno, Czech Republic
Slovak-American Collaboration and Doing Business through Slovak PRO Activities
Vladimir Lackovic, Slovak PRO, New York
Unlocking Potential – Exploring Investment Opportunities in Czechia
Jakub Utěšený, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago
Sharing Best Practices – Czech Direct Investment in the USA
Jan Vintrlik, COO, ALBAform Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
Business Opportunities in the Olomouc Region, Czech Republic
Josef Tetera, Head of Tourism and International Relations, Olomouc Region
Connecting Iowa to the World and the World to Iowa: The University of Iowa’s Links to the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Russell Ganim, Associate Provost and Dean, International Programs, University of Iowa, Iowa City
Prague-Style Astronomical Clock (Orloj) in the U.S. A Transatlantic Project Fostering Education, Science, Culture and Tourism Opportunities.
Bruce Hamous, NCSML Board of Trustees
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Opportunities in 2024
Ron Corbett, Vice President of Economic Development
Sharing Community Impact Data and Advancing the Economic Development Goals of the Region
Amy Alice Chastain, Executive Director, Global Ties Iowa, Iowa City
The Role of Philanthropy in Civil Society. Czech and American Reality through HEI Experience.
Salvatore Alaimo, Indiana University, Professor, Grand Valley State University; Lisa Dietlin, Philanthropy&Develop. Lecturer, DePaul University, Chicago
CID: Growth, Vision, Impact
Martin Lenss, Airport Director at The Eastern Iowa Airport
NCSML TV – Opportunity for Utilizing Positions in the Digital Space
Logan Adam Schultz, CEO, Upload Media Group, Cedar Rapids
Noon Buffet Luncheon
Rozek Grand Hall
5:30 p.m. Furdek Special Collection, Grand Opening
Skala Bartizal Library
7 p.m. Performance by Czech mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlů
Rozek Grand Hall
Registration required by April 29, 2024
The National Collection: 50 Years of NCSML
March 16, 2024 – January 12, 2025, Smith Gallery
Postmark Czechoslovakia: Every Stamp Tells a Story
March 23 – May 25, Skala Bartizal Library
Vaclav Havel: From Dissident to President
April 27 – September 29, Anderson Gallery
Groundbreaking Ceremony, NCSML Clock Tower Renovation
May 3, by the Clock Tower
Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau
May 4, Ribbon Cutting
May 4 – September 29, Petrik Gallery
President’s Society Preciosa Gala
May 4, Rozek Grand Hall & WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, IA
Co-organized by:
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, DC
Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, FIU, Miami
Friends of Slovakia, Washington, DC
American Friends of the Czech Republic, Washington, DC
Czech North American Chamber of Commerce & Culture (CNACCC Inc.)
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Czech Center NEW YORK, et al.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort ®
Albaform