Source: Václav Havel Library by Oldřich Škácha

Our Mission

Promotes democratic freedoms,
universal human rights,
and the power of the arts
to uplift and transform our lives
in the spirit of Vaclav Havel.

Promotes democratic
freedoms, universal
human rights, and
the power of the arts
to uplift and
transform our lives
in the spirit of
Vaclav Havel.

 

 

 

 

Source: Václav Havel Library by Oldřich Škácha

Get to know VH in 1 minute...

Who was Vaclav Havel?

What we do

How we help

The Vaclav Havel Centre is gradually gathering, digitizing, and making accessible written materials, photographs, sound recordings and other materials linked to the person of Václav Havel.

We create an effective, cutting-edge interactive platform and bridge to promote worldwide awareness of Havel’s crucial contributions not only to the democratic transition in Central Europe, but to ongoing debates about a much larger transition of the global community from the 20th to 21st century.

 
 

The Vaclav Havel Center’s annual Disturbing the Peace Award recognizes writers who share President Vaclav Havel’s passionate commitment to human rights and have suffered unjust persecution for their beliefs. The award is given each year to a writer of a distinguished work of fiction, literary nonfiction, biography, memoire, drama, or poetry, who is courageous in dissent and has been punished for challenging an oppressive regime. The award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, supports talented individuals who embody Havel’s legacy while drawing attention to the many writers worldwide who bravely fight human rights violations.

We create a bridge
to promote worldwide
awareness of Havel’s contributions

We create a bridge
to promote
worldwide
awareness of
Havel’s
contributions

The Vaclav Havel Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization established in the United States to honor, preserve, and build upon the legacy of playwright, dissident, and former President of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel.

Honoring Vaclav Havel's Legacy

Our Programs

Disturbing the Peace

VHC’s Disturbing the Peace Award honors writers who echo Vaclav Havel’s dedication to human rights, despite facing persecution. Given annually to a courageous dissenter, the $5,000 prize supports those upholding Havel’s legacy and spotlighting global writers fighting for human rights.

Theater

To honor Vaclav Havel’s theatrical legacy, VHC collects information about productions of his plays in America, awards scholarships to Czech and U.S. students of drama and performance studies, and presents an annual festival of contemporary European theater, Rehearsal for Truth.

Havel's Conversations and Memorials

An oral history project explores Vaclav Havel’s legacy in the US and Canada, showcasing his unique leadership style blending politics and arts. These conversations originated from interviews for Havel’s residency at Columbia University in 2006.

Collecting memorial places among the world cities a dedicated to Vaclav Havel.

 

Martin Palous

Martin Palous was one of the first signatories of Charter 77, a document criticizing the Communist government of Czechoslovakia for not respecting human rights and later served as the group’s spokesman. 

Andy Schapiro

Legal 500 United Stateshas ranked Mr. Schapiro as one of the country’s leading appellate lawyers and labeled him a “superstar.” He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and has been described in the press as “one of the brightest legal minds of his generation.”

team

Meet our board of directors

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Velvet Bridge

You can support VHC by buying artist tiles painted by Czech artist Petr Sis featuring Vaclav Havel. These tiles will be installed on a bridge in Prague.

Tile 1

Tile 2

Tile 3

Our causes

We help more than 23k children every year

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