The Italian Cultural Institute of Prague, an official body of the Italian Government, reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and is a part of the worldwide network of 83 Italian Cultural Institutes. Its institutional mission is to promote and advance the Italian language and culture in the Czech Republic.
Founded in 1922 and officially inaugurated the following year, the Institute became over the years an important center of cultural initiatives: an Italian language school, an exhibition space, a place for meetings and events such as conferences, conventions, seminars , exhibitions, projections, concerts and shows.
The current seat of the Institute is a large complex dating back to the end of the 16th century which includes a cloister and a baroque chapel with a frescoed vault. The building, which belonged to the Italian Congregation, was first used as a hospital, then as an orphanage, and finally in 1942, ceded to the Italian state, it hosted the so-called “Italian House” (la Casa d’Italia) and lastly the Italian Cultural Institute.
In collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Prague, the Institute is responsible for cultural relations and exchanges between Italy and the Czech Republic, according to the general guidelines established by the Agreement between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Czech Republic on cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, signed in 2011 and implemented through Executive Programmes valid for four years (the last of which was stipulated in 2016).
Services
The Italian Cultural Institute of Prague offers the following services to the public:
Italian language and culture courses
Language certificate exams CILS (in cooperation with l’Università per Stranieri di Siena)
Scholarships provided by private language schools in Italy for the courses of Italian
A lending library with more than 18.000 items some of which are for reference only A video library of more than 800 items ranging from films to documentaries in DVD format Cultural information and materials about Italy
A wide range of events covering all areas of culture (archeology, architecture, history, design, fashion, music, literature, publishing, art, photography, cuisine, cinema, theatre, dance, linguistics, science, cultural tourism)
Cooperation
The institute cooperates on wide-ranging events with prestigious academic, artistic and cultural institutions, Czech publishing houses, international festivals, such as:
Bohemia Jazz Fest
Dance Festival Tanec Praha
Prague Crossroads International Theatre Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
International Film Festival Febiofest
Open Air Festival Arena
Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space
Days of European Film
One World Film Festival
Cinema Lucerna Praga
The Night of Literature
Design Blok
Jihlava Film Festival
Film festival of Animation Movies Anifilm
Prague Book Fair
Prague Writers’ Festival
Festival “La Primavera di Praga”
Collegium Vocale 1704
Collegium Marianum
Festival “Suoni sopra le città”
Nachtigall Artists Management
Early Music Summer Festival
Festival Brikcius
Festival EuroArt Praha
Festival “Passeggiate attraverso l´arte”
Piano Festival Rudolf Firkušný
Chamber Music festival of Malá Strana
International guitar festival of Mikulov
Jazz Spring Italia Arte Fest Praha
Respect Festival
Jazzfest Brno
… and many others
