Ostrava to become a city of talent once again: Talent City conference offers two days of inspiration for children and educators
“Unfortunately, children's talent often goes unnoticed. It is too often reduced to academic achievement, which is a mistake. Children with high IQs or a particular talent may even struggle in areas that do not interest them. Sometimes all it takes is to give a child the opportunity to try something new and discover what they enjoy and where they can excel. Talent City is all about creating such opportunities, as well as finding the right ways to work with gifted children. This year's programme focuses particularly on communication, respect and cooperation in developing children's potential,” says Andrea Hoffmannová, Ostrava City Councillor for Education.
Wednesday, 14 October, will be dedicated to children and pupils from Ostrava. Around 90 workshops will take place at various locations throughout the city, with approximately 20 organisations from the fields of education, culture, science, technology and leisure activities taking part. Children will have the opportunity to try activities prepared by the World of Technology, leisure centres and the Ostrava-Poruba House of Children and Youth, the Gallery of Fine Arts, the Ostrava City Library, the University of Ostrava and VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.
A new feature this year is the participation of science centres from other parts of the Czech Republic. For example, Pevnost poznání from Olomouc, iQLANDIA from Liberec and Pražské vodovody a kanalizace – Hydropolis will bring their programmes to Ostrava. The workshops are filling up very quickly, so don't miss this unique opportunity to help children discover and develop their potential. More than 2,000 children took part in the workshops last year.
Another important part of Talent City is the Great Debate, which is moving to a new place in the programme this year. It will take place on Wednesday, 14 October, from 4 p.m. at Etáž Club in the Boutique Business Incubator Ostravica. The event will feature personal stories of people who discovered their talents, developed them and gradually found their way towards what they are passionate about.
The guests will include Dan Bárta, a talented Czech singer and naturalist; Sandra Charvátová, a physician and scientist and recipient of the Ostrava Talent of the Year 2022 award; and Adam Czech, a student of information security at Brno University of Technology's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication Technologies and one of the Top 100 Czech secondary-school students of 2026. The debate will be moderated by Lenka Vrtišková Nejezchlebová, journalist, presenter and science communicator.
The Great Debate aims to show that the path towards discovering one's talent is not always straightforward, and that the environment in which children grow up, the people around them and the opportunities they are given all play an important role in developing their potential.
Thursday, 15 October, will be dedicated to adults working to support and develop children's talent. Two programmes will run simultaneously at Barrák Music Club – Talent and Primary Schools and Talent and Preschools, aimed at primary and nursery-school teachers. The World of Technology Ostrava will host a programme for youth workers focusing on the development of non-formal education. The programme will offer discussions, practical workshops and opportunities to share experience.
The programme at Barrák Music Club will open with a joint discussion on communication and cooperation in developing children's potential, followed by the Talent and Preschools and Talent and Primary Schools sessions.
Talent and Preschools will focus on recognising and developing children's strengths from an early age. Talent and Primary Schools will address respectful communication, a partnership-based approach and ways of supporting children's talent. Speakers will include Josef Roušar, Jana Bartošová, Tereza Martínková, Daniel Pražák and Jana Nováčková. The Kopřiva couple will also share their experience.
Thursday's programme will offer a perspective on talent development from the preschool years through primary school and into non-formal education. For the second time, Talent City will also join the Europe-wide Erasmus Days initiative. Representatives of Základná škola Krosnianska 4 in Košice, for example, will come to Ostrava to share their experience in supporting gifted pupils.
“Talent City is intended for both professionals and the general public. Participation is free of charge; advance registration is the only requirement. The latest programme and information about the speakers can be found on our website at www.talentova.cz. We are organising the event in cooperation with the Moravian-Silesian Employment Pact, the Czech Association of Science Centres and the World of Technology Ostrava, where a new Talent and Science Centres stage will be created. It will demonstrate how children's curiosity and talent can be developed through experiments, hands-on activities and non-formal education,” adds Councillor Andrea Hoffmannová.
Talent City 2026 is held under the auspices of Eva Pavlová, wife of the President of the Czech Republic. The conference is funded from the City of Ostrava's budget, with additional financial support from the Erasmus+ Talents Without Borders grant programme and Europe Direct.