Annual celebration of the legacy of Vaclav Havel, the presence of Czech and Slovak communities in New York, and the 10th anniversary of the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation.
The 2022 Gala theme, "Following Dreams," celebrates journeys, real and imaginary.
Our guest of honor is Peter Sis, a renowned Czech-American master of illustration and writer of children's books.
“I follow the determined cat back across the ancient bridge. We seem to sail through the clouds on the river.”
The evening’s highlights include a tribute to Peter Sis, presentation of the VHLF annual Disturbing the Peace Award to a Courageous Writer at Risk to Ukrainian writer and journalist Andrey Kurkov, the 2022 BBLA Award for Unparalleled Service to the Czech and Slovak Communities to Peter Sis, live auction led by Nicholas D. Lowry, musical performances, stage readings, and delicious Czech cuisine.
Masters of Ceremony
Nicholas D. Lowry, President of Swann Auction Galleries, and Pooya Mohseni, actor, writer, and activist.
Stage readings
Stage reading of excerpts from Peter Sís’s book The Conference of the Birds: directed by Edward Einhorn, Untitled Theater Company No. 61, performed by Marjan Neshat, the winner of the Sam Norkin Drama Desk Award 2022, and Pooya Mohseni, actor, writer, and activist.
Reading from Peter Sís’s book Madlenka by Alice Albright, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Musical performance
Musical performance by Anthony Coleman, avant-garde jazz pianist, and Susan Huang, recording artist.
Music by DJ A to K.
When
Thursday, September 22, 2022
6:00 p.m. Cocktails (rooftop)
7:00 p.m. Dinner (historic ball room)
Where
321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021
The 2022 Annual Gala is organized by the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association and Vaclav Havel Library Foundation. All proceeds will benefit the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established in the United States to promote values of freedom and democracy, and to honor and preserve the legacy of Vaclav Havel, former president of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.
2022 Gala Host Committee
BENEFACTORS
Zdenek and Michaela Bakala
Macmillan Publishers
Andrew H. Schapiro and Tamar Newberger
Jack and Patricia Stack
Craig and Dorothy Stapleton
PATRONS
Joseph Balaz
Veronica Bisek Lurvey
Peter Kalkus
Pavel and Kimberly Oliva
Elizabeth Rajec
Cecilia Rokusek and
Robert Petrik
Lise Stone and
Stephen B. Heintz
SPONSORS
Carlo Bartoli
Beth and George Drost
Geoffrey R. Hoguet and Annalu Ponti
Susan Justman
William and Wendy Luers
Martin Palous
Aaron and Pavla Rosenstein
John Shattuck and Ellen Hume
Anna VA Polesny
Hendrick Vandamme
Tammy Westergard
Marilyn Wyatt
Fengsuo Zhou
SUPPORTERS
Joshua Brook
John Haug
Peter Lamar
Martin Ligr
Estera Mlch
Nancy Petschek-Kohn
Julia Quincy
Georgina Silhan Sager
Bill Shipsey
Marek Skovranek
Eva Vogel
FRIENDS
Eva Derman
Susan Lucak
Emily Mandelstam
2022 Gala Honorary Committee
Dagmar Havlova
Patricia Aldana
Joachim Dvorak
Martina Forman
Jonathan Galassi
Steven Heller
Alexandra Kennedy
Petr Kolar
Charlotta Kotik
Andrew Lass
Fred de Sam Lazaro
Colum McCann
Azar Nafisi
Jakab Orsos
Pavel Ort
Mark Podwal
Bohdan Pomahac and Hana Augustinova
Krista Pospisil
Paulina Porizkova
Marly Rusoff
Charles Simic
Petr Simunek
Martina Skala
Rose Styron
Jonathan Yaged
For more information, please contact Pavla Niklova at info@vhlf.org.