Czech Cultural and Community Center
The Czech Center Museum Houston was founded in 1995 under the name of the Czech Cultural & Community Center. Initially conceived as a home for the Czech-American community in Texas, generous donations allowed us to construct our own building in the Houston Museum District. We moved into our current home in 2004. In the intervening years, historical and cultural artifacts’ contributions lead our board to pivot our mission statement towards historical and cultural preservation. We, therefore, changed our operating name to reflect this new mission.
Today, the Czech Center Museum Houston seeks to inspire people to learn from those who sought freedom despite oppressive rulers and systems. We use the example of the Czech and Slovak experience in the United States and in the world as a mirror through which individuals of other cultures can recognize all peoples’ shared humanity.
Along with Slavic Culture and Art, we also host programs and exhibits about other ethnic groups, such as the Caribbean, Mexican, Vietnamese, Uruguayan, Costa Rican, Haitian, and many more. We value our position in Houston’s diverse community and endeavor to be a forum for cross-cultural dialogue.
The Czech Center Museum Houston has a small dedicated staff supported by a corps of more than 200 volunteers, of which 20 to 30 do so weekly. With their assistance, we hosted 45 free or low-cost events in 2019. These events included performances by upcoming local artists, international musicians, guest speakers, a Czech Christmas Market, Easter Egg Festival, and crafting and language classes. We also work with other local nonprofits to provide them a venue for their programs.
The Czech Center Museum Houston has been working with UH’s Department of History and assistant professor, Dr. Alexey Golubev, since 2018 on several projects. Our museum provides hands-on research opportunities and introduces University students to the workforce with our collaborative research project for our new exhibit and digital project. We are currently developing with the University of Houston Department of History an educational community project, supporting original research with assistance from local humanities students, led by well-established scholars. These research internships are supported by scholarly grants at UH, allowing students to gain practical experience in a real-world museum setting.
The museum strives to be an accessible resource, actively encouraging the study, appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of art, culture, and history. We offer family-friendly events and special programs for children, focusing on personal development and education, complementing the Texas school curriculum.