Cecilia Rokusek, Director of the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) in Iowa, received the Crystal Heart of Gold at the museum's headquarters in Cedar Rapids as a reward for her collaboration with the Czech Center New York in 2021 in the American Midwest and for her support of Czech and Slovak culture in the United States.
Miroslav Konvalina, Director of the Czech Center New York, presented the award during Harafica’s cimbalom music concert in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He stated: “We greatly appreciate not only the cooperation we've established, but also the friendship that has blossomed between us both, and thanks to our collaborative projects at NCSML, also the friendship between the Director and the visiting Czech artists. By working together, the Czech Center New York and the Czech and Slovak Museum in Iowa is able to offer great opportunities in culture and science. We regularly hold collaborative gala openings, organize concerts and lectures, plant commemorative linden trees, and even throw good wine tastings. Cecilia Rokusek’s residence in Cedar Rapids is a place where Czech artists can come and meet notable American figures and also collaborate with them.
The most noteworthy collaboration of 2021 was the Christmas performance featuring truly Czechoslovak opera singers Ester Pavlů and Vlad Chmel alongside pianist Ahmad Hedar in Cedar Rapids and Spillville, Iowa. This was followed in February by another collaborative music project: Harafica US Tour 2022.
The glass heart designed by Czech glassmaker Lukáš Šulc has been awarded by the Czech Center New York since 2019. Previous recipients of the Crystal Heart include opera singer Kristýna Kůstková.
