Czech Centers and the Office of the Commissioner General announce an open call for artists and projects to participate in the cultural program of the Czech National Pavilion at the World Exhibition EXPO 2025.
Projects selected by an expert jury can receive up to 100% financial support, including the costs of transport, accommodation, and fees.
Those interested can apply for a unique opportunity to present the Czech Republic at the biggest event of this decade until September 10, 2024.
“We take our participation in the world exhibition very seriously, which is why we emphasize presenting ourselves as comprehensively as possible. In Japan, we naturally want to present Czech companies, Czech artists, and interesting projects in addition to the top-notch architecture and innovative design of the Czech national pavilion. The cultural program will take place mainly in the interior spaces of the pavilion’s 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, general commissioner of the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, adding: “I firmly believe that the cultural program in our pavilion will not only be an aesthetic experience for Japanese visitors but also inspiration for the global audience at EXPO 2025.”
The call is open to individual creators, art ensembles and entities primarily from 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 art collectives. The ability to communicate effectively in English with Japanese organizers and partners is also important.
Among the criteria that the jury will take into account during the selection, in addition to the programmatic quality of the project, in particular, the Czech-Japanese cultural-artistic connection and the possibility of co-financing, as well as innovativeness, the use of modern technologies or environmental sustainability. Artists can also find inspiration in the planned eight thematic blocks of EXPA 2025. These will be devoted to topics such as cultural community, mobility and smart cities, sustainability and consumption, health and well-being, education and games, security and human rights, in the form of conferences and workshops—ecology and nature conservation or SDGs and future society.
EXPO 2025 will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka, Japan, and will welcome almost thirty million visitors, 85% of whom will come directly from Japan. The central theme of the exhibition is Creating a future society for our lives. The cultural program of the Czech National Pavilion will reflect the theme of Talent and creativity for life, with an emphasis on Czech talent and innovation.
More detailed information about the call, technical specifications of the premises of the Czech National Pavilion, and other details are available here . Those interested can fill out the application form from July 9 to September 10, 2024. The expert jury will then evaluate the projects, and the Office of the Commissioner General and the Czech Center will publish the results in the first half of October 2024 at the latest.