NCSML Building Dedication 25th Anniversary Celebration (program)

September 18, 2021  (10:00am – 10:00pm CDT)

Where: National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Please join us at the NCSML for a weekend full of events as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of that historic day when US President Bill Clinton, Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, and Slovak Republic President Michal Kovac came to Cedar Rapids to dedicate not just NCSML’s building, but our community’s dedication to honoring Czech and Slovak heritage as well as that of all immigrants who we call neighbors.

Saturday, September 18 Schedule of Events

10 a.m. A presentation, ribbon cutting, and parade of kroje will be hosted by Helene Cincebeaux in celebration of the exhibit “Crowning Glory: A Feast of Slovak & Moravian Headdresses,” which features artifacts from Cincebeaux’s personal collection of Czech and Slovak folkwear. Location: NCSML Library. Free

1 p.m. Lucia Gavulová, Curator of the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Slovak National Gallery, will speak about the Slovak visual art scene including the Oskár Čepan Award, the oldest and most prestigious art award devoted to young visual Slovak artists. Location: NCSML Library. Free

2 p.m. Zoom presentation by Zuzana Palovic, Founder, and Gabriela Bereghazyova, Co-director of Global Slovakia, discuss their book, “Super Slovaks” which details the lives of 50 prominent Slovaks who changed the country — most of them for the better. Co-authored with David Keys. Location: NCSML Library. Free

5:30 p.m. 25th Anniversary Dinner kicks off with the ribbon cutting for exhibit “Treasures of Slovakia.” The evening will include a plated dinner, cocktail hour concert by pianist Tomáš Kačo, special guest speakers, and premiere of a work written in honor of NCSML by pianist and composer Jacob Beranek. Location: WFLA/ZCBJ Hall. RSVP is required.