Public call for Czech artists to participate in the cultural programme of the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025

"We take our participation in the World Exhibition very seriously, so we emphasize presenting ourselves as comprehensively as possible. In Japan, we want to present Czech companies, Czech artists and interesting projects alongside the cutting-edge architecture and innovative design of the Czech National Pavilion. The cultural programme will take place mainly in the pavilion's indoor auditorium, which can accommodate up to 240 visitors. We are very curious to see who will want to participate in the cultural challenge and we are really looking forward to all the applications," says Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, adding, "I firmly believe that the cultural programme in our pavilion will not only be an aesthetic experience for Japanese visitors but also an inspiration for the global audience at EXPO 2025."

The call is open to individual creators, artistic companies and entities primarily in the field of contemporary theatre, dance, music and related genres with proven international experience. Applicants must have Czech citizenship or permanent residence in the Czech Republic, while exceptions may be granted to foreigners working in Czech artistic collectives. The ability to communicate effectively in English with Japanese organizers and partners is also important.

In addition to the programmatic quality of the project, the jury's selection criteria include the Czech-Japanese cultural-artistic link and the possibility of co-financing, as well as innovation, the use of modern technologies or environmental sustainability. Artists can also find inspiration in the eight thematic blocks planned for EXPO 2025. These will address themes such as cultural commonality, mobility and smart cities, sustainability and consumption, health and well-being, education and games, security and human rights, ecology and nature conservation or the SDGs and the future society in the form of conferences and workshops.

"We aim to prepare a cultural programme that presents Czechia as a country with a rich cultural tradition, inspiring contemporary art and open to creative reflection on current societal trends. The challenge interconnects the basic attributes of the Czech cultural programme - creativity and talent - with the central theme of the exhibition Creating a Future Society for Our Lives. I am very pleased that through the Call to Action, the door is opening for Czech artists and art groups to reach out to Japanese and international audiences at EXPO 2025 in Osaka," adds Přemysl Pela, Programme Director of the Czech participation in EXPO 2025.

EXPO 2025 will take place from 13 April to 13 October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka, Japan, and will welcome nearly thirty million visitors, 85% of whom will come directly from Japan. The central theme of the exhibition is Creating the Future Society for Our Lives. The cultural programme of the Czech National Pavilion will reflect the theme Talent and Creativity for Life, with an emphasis on Czech talent and innovation.

More detailed information about the call, technical specifications of the Czech National Pavilion space and other details are available here. The application form can be completed from 9 July to 10 September 2024. The expert jury will then evaluate the projects and the Office of the Commissioner General and the Czech Centres will publish the results no later than the first half of October 2024.

Expert partners of the cultural challenge The expert partners of the cultural challenge are the Institute of Arts - Theatre Institute, a contributory organisation of the Ministry of Culture supporting the presentation of live art abroad, and the service organisation Nová síť supporting live art and open culture. Nová síť is, among other things, the administrator of the Czech cultural network Nová síť, which brings together more than 30 organisations across the regions of the Czech Republic.

About the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2025 In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Czech Commissioner General announced an open anonymous architectural competition for the design of the national pavilion for EXPO 2025. A total of 38 teams entered the competition, from which an expert jury headed by world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning design in the shape of a glass spiral by Apropos Architects in March 2023. The load-bearing structure of the building will consist of modern wooden panels, while the façade will be made of art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in Czechia. The National Pavilion will offer a worthy backdrop for the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, which will be held from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in the Osaka Bay. The pavilion will house a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, a restaurant, a VIP lounge and a relaxation area in front of the pavilion with a view of the sea.

About Czech participation at EXPO 2025 Czechia as an independent state will participate in the World EXPO for the sixth time. Ondřej Soška, who won the tender of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic last spring with his concept and theme "Talent and Creativity for Life", has been the Commissioner General since September 2022. Czechia should present itself in Osaka not only with what the Japanese know very well and have long admired, such as Czech glass and classical music, but especially with Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising start-ups and regional talents.