The accompanying program of the 2023 Open House Prague Festival, which starts on Monday, May 15, includes guided tours in English, exhibitions, performances, projections, and more.
Starting May 15, you also can visit us at our information center, located at the New Stage of the National Theater (address: Národní 1393, Praha 1; entry from the small square by the building – Václav Havel Square). Here you can buy our merchandise, this year’s printed guide, or get tips and recommendations. We look forward to seeing you!
‘Open Prague’ Photo Contest
Do you love Prague and photography? In collaboration with our media partner Estav.cz and artners Megapixel and Ná Zábradlí Theater, we are holding the photo contest Otevřená Praha (‘Open Prague’) again, where you can win attractive prizes. No matter if you’re a beginner, or a professional – you can compete in three categories: Space, Detail, and People. The best photos will be selected by our jury, and the winners will be decided by a public vote. The contest runs from May 15 to May 21, 2023. The deadline for applications and sending in your photos is Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 12 p.m. Gear up and enjoy the festival in yet another way!
Performance: WHOMAN
Am I a man? What am I allowed to do? What am I not allowed to do? What am I supposed to do? Who will tell me? What part of me can be revealed? Can I feel my inner feelings on the outside?
WHOMAN, a performance produced by Ufftenživot & Studio ALTA, explores social norms, stereotypes, and expectations, and challenges what it means to be a man in today’s world. The performance takes place on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 18 at 7.30 p.m at the former Libeň Brewery, which is also among the open buildings on the weekend. Tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Guided Tours in English
As part of the accompanying program on the weekend, guided tours in English take place at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (Saturday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and The Fizz Prague (11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on both days). At the institute, the tours will take you to selected areas in both the historical and new building, including the restored study of chemist Antonín Holý (whose substances are used today to treat e.g. AIDS). At The Fizz Prague, you can expect a modern apartment building that follows the most recent trends in student housing.
There are also several more buildings in the program where English tours take place continually throughout the day – see our tips for must-see buildings or use the filter in the section Program 2023 to see which buildings offer tours in English.
Exhibition of Contemporary Czech Art
During the weekend, you can visit an exhibition with artworks of contemporary Czech artists from KOOJON, a private art collection managed by Iva Bízová and her friends. Located in the basement of Hall 36 at the Holešovice Marketplace, the exhibition offers a contrast between the dark space and the progressive art represented by paintings, objects, installations, and audiovisual works of renowned Czech artists. The exhibited artists include e.g. Hynek Alt, Jiří Franta & David Böhm, Anna Sláma & Marek Delong, Jakub Jansa, Luděk Rathouský, Rafani, Julius Reichel, Tomáš Roubal, and Martin Salajka. During the exhibition, the initial works from the KOOJON collection – made by the legendary Olbram Zoubek – will also be presented. The exhibition is held in collaboration with the creative agency LOOSERS.
Overview of Accompanying Events in the Open Buildings on the Weekend
Blum – main office of the company
time-lapse video from the construction process, photo loop, exhibition with plans and photos
Bořislavka Center
exhibition of Milan Houser’s work, program for children
Braník Brewery – Dance Art Center
presentation of stage equipment
Central Prague Slaughterhouse – Holešovice Marketplace
educational trail about the history of the marketplace; exhibition of artworks from the private contemporary art collection KOOJON
Cibulka Homestead
exhibition of the future appearance of the center of children’s palliative care and the hospice, presentation of the activities of the Vlček Family Foundation; information about children’s palliative care
City Spa Žižkov – House of Dance
exhibition of the visualizations of the House of Dance (Studio Reaktor and Tanec Praha, z. ú.)
Clubhouse of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic
exhibition on the history of the club and the history of the building, exhibition about Czechoslovak automobile racer Eliška Junková
Czernin Palace – seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
panel exhibition in the hall/sala terrena in the garden
Ďáblice Observatory
presentation on the history of the observatory
DBK Shopping Center
exhibition panels, quiz
DISK Theater (part of the Academy of Performing Arts – DAMU)
evening performance at DISK, “Kočka na kolejích” by Josef Topol
Ekolo.cz showroom
city bikes and cargo e-bikes available to try out for free on the testing circuit
Ericsson Palace and the Polish Institute in Prague
information on Poland, tourist attractions, and the program of the Polish Institute in Prague
Faculty Elementary School in Ďáblice
plans, photos documenting reconstruction and activities of the facility
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague
exhibition of student works
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague
historical videos and photos from the faculty life – important figures, cultural life, buildings
THE FIZZ Prague
projection of a video documenting the construction; tours in English – Saturday, Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Floating Boathouse of TJ Tatran Praha
exhibition of photos and available documentation concerning the floating boathouse
Gráf Hotel – I. P. Pavlova 5
creative origami workshop for families with children (Saturday 2 p.m.)
Great (Löwit) Watermill
historical photo loop
Hotel Intercontinental – Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel
exhibition panels, video
House of the Firemen’s Association of Bohemia – Firemen’s House
information flyer on the history of the building
Church of the Hus Congregation in Vršovice
performance, lecture, community event
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR – historical and new building
English guided tours (Saturday 11 a.m. and 2.20 p.m.)
Institute of Philosophy, Institute of Sociology, Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
panel exhibition ‘Changes of Rural Architecture’, presentation of the project ‘Alchemy of Scents’ (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Klar Institute of the Blind – seat of the Czech Geological Survey
historical photos of the building and its construction, posters with the activities of CGS
Laichter House
exhibition of documents, plans, drawings, and photos
Letná Water Tower
current exhibition in the gallery
Libeň Brewery – Studio ALTA
photo loop, past – present; interactive dance workshop for children (whole Sunday)
Libeň Gas Holder
exhibition of materials about the building
Machine House – main office of Qarta architecture
presentation with historical photos, models of completed projects
Marianne Gellert-Petschek Villa – Museum of Literature
projection of documents, plans, drawings, and photos from the preparation stages of construction and then reconstruction
Masaryk Railway Station
historical photos of Masaryk Railway Station
Metro Palace – Image Theater
video documenting the reconstruction, historical photos of the original cinema provided by the owners of Metro Palace
Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic
short loop with a movie documenting the construction; construction plans on walls; transport-themed playground for children in front of the building
Municipal House in Ďáblice
exhibition of drawings and photos
National Library of Technology
exhibition of books and reproductions from the historical collection, exhibition on the history of the library, exhibition on the construction of the library building in Dejvice with interesting facts
New Stage of the National Theater
drawings and archive materials; video from the glass factory where the screens of the New Stage were made; information and interesting facts about the furniture of the New Stage, the building itself, and more; plans of the upcoming reconstruction, LEGO and DUPLO workroom (entry via piazzetta)
New Synagogue in Libeň
historical photos, information about the history of the building and the former Jewish quarter
NN IT Hub
game, photos showing the building before and after reconstruction
Petschek Palace – seat of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
exhibition of historical photographs and drawings of project documentation
Petzold Restaurant – Bohemia Pavilion
exhibition with photos from the reconstruction process
Podkovářská Premises
visitors can play basketball on the roof; tour of the printing office and the graphic studio, tours of showrooms
Pragovka Art District
open galleries, exhibitions
Prague 12 Town Hall
exhibition of original remote worksites, video loop
President Wilson Station – Prague Main Railway Station
exhibition of photos, guided tours
Project Studios Association – CAMP
children’s corner with LEGO
Sokol Gymnasium in Karlín
exhibitions of photos and materials from archives
T. J. Sokol Pražský Gymnasium
photo loop
Transformer Station Smíchov – 400 ASA Gallery
projection of footage from the reconstruction process
Trmal Villa
current exhibition, permanent exposition of furniture designed by Kotěra
Třebešín Velodrome
free bike and helmet rental and a ride on the velodrome