Mutual Inspirations Festival

The Mutual Inspirations Festival (MIF) is an annual cultural initiative spearheaded by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, dedicated to celebrating the enduring exchange of ideas, creativity, and democratic values between Czech and American cultures.

Launched in 2010 as a pilot project of the Embassy, the festival was conceived as a way to highlight extraordinary Czech personalities, movements, and historical moments whose work has transcended national borders and inspired audiences worldwide. Due to its early success and strong public engagement, MIF expanded the following year into the broader Washington, DC community and has since become one of the Embassy’s flagship cultural diplomacy programs.

Each year, the festival focuses on a central theme, individual, or region, using it as a lens through which to explore mutual influence across disciplines. Over the past 15 years, MIF has honored an exceptional range of figures and ideas, including Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, Antonín Dvořák, Miloš Forman, Václav Havel, Franz Kafka, Karel Čapek, Martina Navratilova, Gregor Mendel, Marta Kubišová, Věra Čáslavská, Voskovec & Werich, Eliška Junková, and Bedřich Smetana, as well as landmark themes such as Czech Independence.

Programs take place at cultural, educational, and community venues across the Washington region and beyond, and span a wide range of formats—concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, performances, discussions, educational programs, and family events. Through these diverse forms, MIF highlights how artistic and intellectual ideas travel across borders, inspire new interpretations, and give rise to contemporary dialogue.

At its core, the Mutual Inspirations Festival serves as a platform for connection—bringing together artists, scholars, students, institutions, and the public to reflect on shared history, creative exchange, and the values that continue to shape Czech–American relations today.

Now in its 16th year, the Mutual Inspirations Festival continues to evolve, fostering new collaborations while honoring the legacy of ideas that unite cultures across time and geography. This year, the festival celebrates the Pilsen Region, located in western Czech Republic and named for its historic capital, Plzeň (Pilsen). Pilsen is a vibrant cultural and educational center, home to St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Great Synagogue, and the University of West Bohemia. The region holds a special place in Czech–American history, having been liberated by the U.S. Army in May 1945, an event commemorated annually through the Pilsen Liberation Festival. Pilsen is also the birthplace of Pilsner Urquell, the world’s first pale lager, making the region a compelling focus for Mutual Inspirations Festival 2025.

This year’s festival highlights include a special exhibition on Czech photography at the Katzen Arts Center featuring Pilsen-born photographer Jaroslav Beneš, a U.S. tour by the acclaimed puppet theatre company Divadlo ALFA from Pilsen, and a Czech National Day celebration dedicated to the Pilsen Region.

We look forward to welcoming you to the festival. 
Cheers — Na zdraví! Here’s to an exciting festival ahead!