Mutual Inspirations Festival

The Mutual Inspirations Festival (MIF) is an annual initiative spearheaded by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, focusing on the mutual inspirations between Czech and American cultures and featuring each year an extraordinary Czech personality who has greatly influenced and inspired others through his or her work. Over the years, the festival has featured former president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (2010), classical music legend Antonín Dvořák (2011), film director Miloš Forman (2012), former president Václav Havel (2013), and writer Franz Kakfa (2014).

The festival began as a pilot project of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in 2010, and branched out to the local DC community a year later. It continues to grow, reaching out to select cities across the United States. In the last three years, over 30,000 visitors have attended festival events throughout Washington, DC, alone.    

The festival takes place at cultural, religious, and educational community centers through a variety of forms, such as music, art, film, and literature. Through the celebration of the work of many famous personalities and the creations of individuals they in turn influenced, the festival aims to depict this long tradition of transatlantic inspiration and interpretation as well as to foster new works.

Now in its sixth year, the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2015 celebrates one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Karel Čapek. This year marks the 125th anniversary of his birth.  

Running from September 3–November 21, 2015, the festival highlights events at select venues throughout the Washington area.

Join us as we venture deeper into the works of Čapek and discover new threads of inspiration. Delve into Čapek this fall and be inspired! Stay posted on this website for upcoming events.