EXPO and the CR

Czech exposition in Expo 2005

The Exhibiton of Czech Art and Culture

Czech culture generally enjoys plenty of attention in Japanese and is received warmly. Therefore, the Czech Republic was invited by the Japanese Association for EXPO 2005 to present its cultural and social background in particular.

The Czech exhibit wants to offer an original artistic solution, in the context of the theme and concept of the whole exposition, which would pick up on the traditional achievements of the Czech Republic in the world expositions. In Japan, they still remember the contribution made by Czechoslovakia to the world exposition in Osaka - in a recent interview, the Japanese Empress Michiko mentioned the Czechoslovak exposition in connection with Czech literature, which traditionally has many fans in Japan.

The concept of the Czech contribution will be shaped considerably by cultural and social events, by means of which it will be possible to represent the Czech Republic with dignity and success.

The events being prepared:

• Czech National Day
• Week of Czech Music
• Week of Czech Film
• Week of Czech Art
• Week of Czech Glass
• Presentation of Czech Regions and Prague
• Presentation of Czech Environmental Projects

These actions not only offer a connection to the wealth of history and long-standing healthy relations between the Czech Republic and Japan, but we are also confident that they will become commercially successful activities in the scope of the Czech contribution to EXPO 2005 and that in their scope they will extend beyond the borders of the exposition itself. We want to present the history and traditions of the Czech Republic in a European context, while setting aside space for the young generation.

Pavilion and Exposition

For the Czech exposition, we are contemplating two basic modules with dimensions of 18x18x9 m and a total area of 648 m². This area covers the exposition space, an admin section, and a lobby, and will be spread over two floors, thus increasing the exposition space by 50%. In all we estimate that there will be about 972 m² of exposition space.

The exhibitors will be encouraged to use the main theme and sub-themes as their basis. The Japanese Association for the World Exposition 2005 Aichi will monitor observance of the theme – the construction work will be able to start once the project has been approved by the Japanese. The Japanese organizers are offering land for the pavilion over the period of the exposition, the skeleton of the modules (pavilions), power and water supply equipment, and one telephone line, all free of charge. Exhibitors must fund all other costs themselves.

Visitors to the Czech pavilion will be presented with Czech culture, but not only in its traditional and well-known form - the aim is to introduce a world audience to the younger Czech generation too. There will be cooperation with young architects and artists in the production of the pavilion, exposition, and cultural projects. As is mentioned above, EXPO 2005 will combine the past and present, traditions and cutting-edge technology, i.e. a form of self-expression which often appears in the work of young artists.

The Commissioner General’s advisory committee has agreed that the tender for the Czech pavilion should be a two-stage process. The first stage will focus on the idea and scenario (synopsis), the second on the script, libretto, and pavilion, whereby a condition will be the presentation of a specific team of artists and associates. This decision was reached after a detailed analysis of the Czech Republic's participation in Hannover, where the scenario, libretto, and pavilion were created by two different teams, which spawned disputes and misunderstandings. These circumstances reflected negatively on the overall equilibrium of the Czech pavilion.

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