July 2023 culture overview for Prague: Summer's best art, music, and theater

The new Lost in the Moment that Follows exhibition at Kunsthalle Praha showcases the Romanian art scene from modernism to the present. Curated by Tevž Logar, the exhibition features nearly 150 works by 79 artists. The artworks are drawn from the extensive collection of Romanian collector and philanthropist Ovidiu Șandor, known for his Art Encounters biennale of contemporary art. The exhibition, which includes painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, photography, and video, runs until Sunday, September 10.

The Museum from the Cellar to the Attic exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of the National Museum. Visitors can explore the museum from different perspectives, ranging from its foundations and buildings to collections and current projects. The exhibition showcases not only well-known themes and personalities but also lesser-known aspects, including the experiences of visitors themselves. Children are also catered to with a dedicated storyline and interactive search game. Symbolically presented in period cabinets by Josef Schulz, the exhibition pieces together a comprehensive image of the museum's evolution over more than 200 years.

The Kampa Museum's new exhibit The Paradox of Fashion: Fashion versus Art explores the contradictory nature of fashion. Fashion both conceals and reveals, stirs emotions yet creates barriers. It straddles the surface while hinting at depth. This exhibition showcases fashion artifacts primarily from the 1960s, sourced from the Alexandre Vassiljev Foundation collection in Kaunas, Lithuania. These pieces are juxtaposed with artworks from the museum's collections. By examining fashion as a paradoxical phenomenon, the exhibition invites viewers to appreciate its historical and cultural significance, challenging them to delve deeper into its complexities.

Prague's DOX art gallery and Edison Filmhub have collaborated to launch a summer cinema series running from July to August. The unique venue is the rooftop of the DOX building in Holešovice, near the impressive Airship Gulliver. With a total of nine screenings, many of the films curated by Edison Filmhub will be English-friendly. Screenings, held every Wednesday starting July 5, will feature original language films with Czech audio and more than half will include English subtitles. To ensure noise levels are kept low for local residents, wireless headphones will be provided. Read more at The Prague Reporter.

From July 10 to 16 a selection of the best films from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will be showcased in Prague and Brno. The screenings will take place in several cinemas, including Aero, Světozor, and Přítomnost in Prague. Audiences can expect to see festival gems, popular favorites, and award-winning new releases. The program details and ticketing information can be found on the respective cinema websites and box offices.

Presale tickets are now available for Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer to be screened in full-frame 70mm IMAX at Cinema City Flora in Prague. The Prague IMAX cinema is the only one in continental Europe and one of 25 worldwide to showcase the director's intended format. Screenings will begin on the night of July 19 with a midnight showing, followed by four screenings per day for at least the next week. The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, with an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt.

The vibrant Bohemia Jazz Fest, one of the largest summer music festivals in Europe swings into Prague this month. Founded in 2006, this festival aims to bring world-class jazz to the Czech Republic and has gained a significant following of nearly 100,000 jazz enthusiasts. Enjoy open-air concerts featuring headline performers in stunning medieval settings, starting with the opening concert in Prague's Royal Garden. Best of all, admission is free.

The first of a series of pop-up events in the lead up to Electric Universe's November show in Prague's O2 universe, called Electric Universe In The Church, takes place in the church of St. Gabriel in Prague. A piano concert by the composer and producer Karel Havlíček in the majestic atmosphere of the nave of the church, the Gabriel Loci building, will be followed by a live electronic DJ set by Karel Havlíček in the underground crypt of the church. Proceeds from the entrance fee will be donated to the purchase of teaching aids and musical instruments for the Jaroslav Ježek School, specifically the Basic Art School for the Visually Impaired.

Prague Shakespeare Festival is a summer tradition, although most of the performances are in Czech. One exception is the Prague Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet, which will be performed as part of the festival next month. In the meantime, you can bone up on the bard with PSC's Short Shakespeare at the National Theater this month. Two short productions: Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing with a special 10-minute pre-show bonus - Romeo and Juliet in Arabic are part of PSC's 2023 Summer Shakespeare intensive, featuring emerging talent from around the world.

Za dveřmi Street Theater Festival in Prague, offers a week-long celebration of theater, new circus, and outdoor performances. The festival will take place at various locations, including the Holešovice market and Mariánské náměstí. Immerse yourself in a diverse program of artistic expressions and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this open-air event.

The St. Agnes Monastery is hosting a site-specific multi-genre performance as part of its ongoing summer scene presented by the Losers Cirque Company and organized by Theater Bravo! The performance combines the ancient setting of the monastery with elements of new circus, original music, singing, and live narration. Exploring the theme of holiness in a contemporary context, the production aims to create a magical experience for the audience.