Česká beseda Sarajevo

Česká beseda Sarajevo (also written Česka beseda Sarajevo) is a civic association of citizens of Czech origin based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It functions as a cultural and community organisation rather than a commercial enterprise, dedicated to nurturing the traditions, cultural heritage, customs and language of the Czech ancestors of its members. The association is open to anyone with Czech roots, to people who have lived in the Czech Republic, and to those who simply wish to learn more about Czech culture and tradition. The current members are largely descendants of Czech settlers who arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the late 19th century as skilled professionals in many fields, settling in cities across the country from Banja Luka through Tuzla to Sarajevo and Mostar. A few members were born in the Czech Republic and came to Sarajevo for love or work and stayed. The association celebrates its day on 28 September, the feast of Saint Wenceslas (Sveti Vaclav), patron saint of the Czech state and of all Czechs. The modern association traces its revival to 27 May 1996, when Branka Hrzek and Anton Mikulašek met with Martin Klepetko, chargé d'affaires of the newly established Czech Republic embassy in Sarajevo, at the Czech Centre in Sarajevo to seek Czech state support for renewing the Beseda. The founding list carried 54 names. The association acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Czech Embassy in Sarajevo and of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Department for Culture and Relations with Compatriots, without which it says it could not survive in present conditions. An electoral assembly was held on 9 April 2022 in the gallery space of the Franciscan monastery of St. Anthony on Bistrik.

Česká beseda Sarajevo is a civic association of citizens of Czech origin in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its members are largely descendants of Czech settlers who came to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the late 19th century as skilled experts in many fields and found a new home in cities across the country, from Banja Luka through Tuzla to Sarajevo and Mostar. A few members were born in the Czech Republic and came to Sarajevo for love or work and remained. The association describes a long-standing wish to renew the Beseda that became reality after 27 May 1996. On that day, following a previously expressed request, Branka Hrzek and Anton Mikulašek met for the first time with Martin Klepetko, chargé d'affaires of the recently formed Czech Republic embassy in Sarajevo, at the Czech Centre in Sarajevo. Klepetko was informed of the purpose of the meeting: to obtain the most important condition for renewing Česká beseda Sarajevo — the support of the Czech Republic. He expressed the readiness of the Czech embassy, and his own personal willingness, to take part in realising the idea. The long-interrupted link with the Czech Republic was thus re-established, along with renewed Czech interest in the Sarajevo Czechs, and the support encouraged work on renewing the Beseda. Preparations for organising the Renewal Assembly proceeded quickly, news spread, and citizens of Sarajevo of Czech origin gathered. The list of founders carried 54 names. The association celebrates its day on 28 September, the feast of Saint Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech state and of all Czechs. It thanks the Czech Embassy in Sarajevo for its support and outstanding cooperation and helpfulness, as well as the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Department for Culture and Relations with Compatriots, without whose help and understanding Česká beseda Sarajevo could not survive in present conditions. On 9 April 2022, an Electoral Assembly of Česká beseda Sarajevo was held in the gallery space of the Franciscan monastery of St. Anthony on Bistrik. The association maintains a portal to show a wider circle of people how it nurtures the tradition, cultural heritage, customs and language of its ancestors, and to reach people of Czech roots who have lost the thread connecting them to their origin through assimilation or family and life circumstances. It invites those with Czech roots, those who have lived in the Czech Republic, or those who wish to learn more about Czech culture and tradition to join.

• 2022

  On 9 April, the Electoral Assembly of Česká beseda Sarajevo was held in the gallery space of the Franciscan monastery of St. Anthony on Bistrik.

• 1996

  On 27 May, Branka Hrzek and Anton Mikulašek met Martin Klepetko, chargé d'affaires of the Czech Republic embassy in Sarajevo, at the Czech Centre in Sarajevo to seek support for renewing the Beseda.

• 1996

  The Renewal Assembly was prepared with a founding list of 54 names.

Non-profit Czech expatriate cultural association in Sarajevo.

1. 1Česka Beseda – official websiteceskabesedasa.ba
2. 2Naš početak – Česka Besedaceskabesedasa.ba
3. 3Česká beseda Sarajevo – Wikidatawikidata.org