The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in the United States to honor, preserve, and build upon the legacy of playwright, dissident, and former President of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel.

They complement Vaclav Havel Library in Prague by organizing access to unique materials documenting Havel’s accomplishments and activities in North America. They create an effective, cutting-edge interactive platform and bridge to promote worldwide awareness of Havel’s crucial contributions not only to the democratic transition in Central Europe, but to ongoing debates about a much larger transition of the global community from the 20th to 21st century.

History

The Vaclav Havel Library Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization with headquarters at the Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan, which has been an important center for Czech and Slovak culture in New York City for more than one hundred years. Co-chaired by Madeleine Albright, Laura Bush and Dagmar Havlova, the VHLF is supported by a broad spectrum of American political leaders united in support of Havel’s name and inspiration.

The inaugural meeting of VHLF’s Advisory Board occurred in May 2012 following “Celebrate Havel,” an event at the Lincoln Center organized by The Foundation for a Civil Society, the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, the Czech Center New York, and the Havel Library in Prague. At the meeting, the VHLF Board of Directors was formed.

On September 7, 2012, VHLF Board Chairman Craig Stapleton convened the first meeting of the Václav Havel Library Foundation’s Board of Directors. At that meeting, the Board nominated and approved Ambassador Martin Palous as President of the Foundation.

On September 11, 2012, VHLF received its official IRS 501(c)(3) charitable designation.