Initiated by the playwright and writer Vaclav Havel, the artist Theodor Pistek, and the poet and artist Jiri Kolar, an annual award for young Czech artist was founded in Lany, May 27, 1990. The award’s title is in honor of Jindrich Chalupecky, the leading art and literary critic, essayist and philosopher, who, toward the end of his life, consented to an award bearing his own name :

The Jindrich Chalupecky Award

The  prize winner will receive 100.000 CZK to realize an exhibition and publish a catalogue in the following year, during which the winner spends six-week scholarship in New York as a part of   International Studio and Curatorial Program, organized by Trust for Mutual Understanding. The institution helps the prize winner to make important contacts abroad. During his stay he may exhibit his work in the Czech Center in New York.

The award commemorates the life-time achievement of Jindrich Chalupecky who initiated unofficial, avant-gard art activities in the former Czechoslovakia. Simultaneously, he worked to preserve Czech art's independence, on the one hand, and its affinity with the tradition of both Czech and European modern art on the other. Chalupecky's aim was to connect groups and individuals of all generations and of different worldviews to prevent the ongoing spiritual and moral decline. Despite his old age and his expert knowledge, he remained open to new, nascent tendencies and always supported young art. That is why the award is dedicated to young artists: to enable the most talented and distinguishing ones to directly experience the world of contemporary art. The founders of Jindrich Chalupecky Society wish to promote contemporary Czech art and preserve the memory of the man who dedicated his life to its cause.