The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library earned international recognition for preserving cultural identity and heritage worldwide during a conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Forum of Slavic Cultures, an international nonprofit headquartered in Slovenia, honored NCSML with the Diploma for Preserving Slavic Heritage Worldwide at its annual Živa Award ceremony. The award recognizes initiatives that preserve Slavic cultural heritage and identity globally.
Four museums from Italy, Hungary and the United States competed for the honor, named after Živa, the Slavic goddess who symbolizes life, vitality and fertility.
In May, NCSML’s leadership team met with the Živa Award jury via video conference and conducted a livestreamed tour of the galleries, library and Museum Store. For the final portion of the competition, all 32 nominees presented at the international conference. Cecilia Rokusek, NCSML president and CEO, and Stefanie Kohn, curator, delivered a presentation detailing the museum’s mission, vision, history and accomplishments.
“These presentations showcased the vital roles these museums play in bringing cultural heritage to life,” the Forum of Slavic Cultures said in a news release. “They have become living, inclusive spaces of memory, dialogue and creativity.”
The forum promotes cultural dialog and cooperation among nearly 250 museums and heritage sites across 13 Slavic countries.
