City Awards

The city awards are therefore granted:

• for significant literary, artistic, and other works related to the statutory city of Ostrava
• for significant discoveries related to the statutory city of Ostrava that are valued by the professional public
• for extraordinary performance in achieving significant successes related to the statutory city of Ostrava
• as a special expression of recognition for individuals whose activities have made or continue to make an exceptional contribution to the statutory city of Ostrava
• as a special token of respect to significant Czech or foreign representatives in the fields of politics, science, culture, and sports

Proposals for the awarding of the city prize may be submitted to the City Assembly by its members, the Ostrava City Council (hereinafter referred to as the "city council") or City Assembly Committees. Proposals may also be submitted through the city council by the authorities of the city districts of the statutory city of Ostrava. Citizens of the Statutory City of Ostrava, self-employed individuals with their place of business within the territory of the Statutory City of Ostrava, and legal entities with their registered office within the territory of the Statutory City of Ostrava may submit proposals through the Mayor’s Office Department of the Ostrava City Hall. The condition is compliance with the following Rules for Awarding Honorary Citizenship and Awards of the Statutory City of Ostrava.

No specific formal requirements are prescribed for proposals; however, you may use, for example, this simple form.

Below is a list of all recipients of the City of Ostrava Award, which has been awarded in recent years by the Ostrava City Assembly. The awards are listed chronologically, as they were gradually awarded by the City.

Collective of authors

• Members: Jaroslav Bakala, Mečislav Borák, Blažena Gracová, Andělín Grobelný, Karel Jiřík, Bohumil Klíma, Milan Myška, Blanka Pitronová, Jan Steiner.
• Reason for award: For the extensive publication History of Ostrava (Sfinga Publishing House, published under the auspices of the Archive of the City of Ostrava, Ostrava 1993, with 650 illustrative plates).
• Awarded by and date: 10th session of the City Assembly, 27 March 1996.

Eva Dřízgová-Jirušová

• Description of activities: Soloist of the opera company of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava.
• Reason for award: For a significant contribution to the enrichment of cultural life in Ostrava and exemplary representation of the city in the Czech Republic and abroad.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 March 1998.

David Moravec

• Description of activities: Member of the Czech Republic national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano.
• Reason for award: For exemplary representation of the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, thereby also contributing to the promotion of his native city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 March 1998.

Richard Šmehlík

• Description of activities: Member of the Czech Republic national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano.
• Reason for award: For exemplary representation of the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, which also contributed to highlighting his native city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 March 1998.

František Černík

• Description of activities: Member of the support staff of the Czech Republic national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano.
• Reason for award: For exemplary representation of the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano and for a lifetime of contributions to the field of sport, which have helped to promote the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 March 1998.

Zdeněk Dejmek

• Description of activities: Artistic director of the Janáček Chamber Orchestra and long-time concertmaster of the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the promotion of the musical culture of the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 16th session of the City Assembly, 13 December 2000.

Ivo Stolařík

• Description of activities: Musicologist and educator.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the cultural life of the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 21st session of the City Assembly, 26 September 2001.

Kubín Quartet

• Description of activities: Chamber ensemble consisting of Luděk Cap, Jan Niederle, Pavel Vítek, and Jiří Zedníček.
• Reason for award: For the development of the musical culture of the city of Ostrava and for the high-quality promotion of Ostrava in the Czech Republic and, especially, abroad.
• Awarded by and date: 27th session of the City Assembly, 26 June 2002.

Ivan Měrka

• Description of activities: Prominent figure in Czech musical culture.
• Reason for award: For efforts to develop Czech musical culture, with a strong focus on the Ostrava region.
• Awarded by and date: 8th session of the City Assembly, 25 June 2003.

Bořivoj Čelovský

• Description of activities: During his studies, he worked as a teacher and later as a librarian at the Regional Archive in Opava. In 1948, he went into exile. In Canada, he worked as a bibliographer for the Canadian Encyclopedia. Author of numerous books, including Zlaté děcka, So oder so, Šel jsem svou cestou, Mnichovský syndrom, Ota Hora 1909–1997, Emigranti, and others.
• Reason for award: for a lifetime of work in the fields of history, political science, law, and economics.
• Awarded by and date: 8th session of the City Assembly, 25 June 2003.

Zora Rozsypalová

• Description of activities: Since the 1960s, actress of the drama ensemble at the State Theatre in Ostrava, distinguished in dramatic and tragic roles. Recipient of numerous national awards; persecuted after 1968. Laureate of the Thalia Award (1994) and the Crystal Rose (1997).
• Reason for award: For contributions to the development of artistic and cultural activities in the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 16th session of the City Assembly, 26 March 2008.

Eduard Ovčáček

• Description of activities: Visual artist and graphic designer, representative of lettrism and structural abstraction. Contributed to the development of Ostrava’s artistic life and to cultural connections with Slovakia. After 1989, he initiated the establishment of a university-level art program at Ostrava University. Recipient of numerous prestigious awards.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the development of artistic and cultural activities in the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 16th session of the City Assembly, 26 March 2008.

Stanislav Vopasek

• Description of activities: Director of the OKD Mining Museum, contributed to the development of Ostrava’s mining industry and the preservation of industrial heritage. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Jindřich Hotel House, the cultural center in Petřkovice, and the OKD Mining Museum, where he served as the first director. He initiated the Friends of the OKD Mining Museum Club and the LANDEK Ostrava Foundation, and advocated for the inscription of Ostrava’s technical monuments on the UNESCO list. The award was presented posthumously to his wife, Věra Vopasková.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the development of cultural activities in the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 16th session of the City Assembly, 26 March 2008.

Jan Satorie st.

• Description of activities: Officer of the Czechoslovak Army and legionnaire. Fought in World War I; in 1938, commanded the 4th Border Regiment in Hlučín, which distinguished itself during mobilization. Imprisoned by the Nazis from 1941 to 1943; participated in the May 1945 uprising. After the war, promoted to brigadier general.
• Reason for award: For active participation in the liberation of our country and the city of Ostrava during World War II.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 November 2008.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Ludvík Cibulka

• Description of activities: Legionnaire from World War I (Italian front) and, after the war, officer of the Czechoslovak Army. In 1938, commanded a battalion of the State Defense Guard in Moravská Ostrava. After the occupation, participated in the Resistance (Obrana národa), was arrested by the Gestapo, and tortured to death in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1941. In 1946, posthumously promoted to infantry colonel.
• Reason for award: For resistance activities during World War II.
• Awarded by and date: 22nd session of the City Assembly, 26 November 2008.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava

• Description of activities: Prominent symphony orchestra representing the city at prestigious domestic and international festivals. Provides the residents of Ostrava with regular opportunities to experience top-level music. At the time of the award, the orchestra was celebrating its 55th anniversary and was recognized both nationally and internationally (e.g., a U.S. tour conducted by Theodore Kuchar).
• Reason for award: For successfully promoting the city at prestigious domestic and international festivals.
• Awarded by and date: 29th session of the City Assembly, 24 June 2009.

Jiří Král

• Description of activities: War hero and fighter pilot. After the 1939 occupation, he fled to Poland and became the first commander of the first Czechoslovak Army unit abroad. In France, he completed numerous combat missions; in 1940, he was shot down in unequal combat. Decorated with the Czechoslovak and French War Crosses and other medals; posthumously promoted to the rank of colonel.
• Reason for award: As a mark of respect on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
• Awarded by and date: 40th session of the City Assembly, 30 June 2010.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Jan Balabán

• Description of activities: Writer, translator, and journalist. Iconic figure of Ostrava’s cultural scene; one of the most prominent Czech prose writers of his time. His book Možná že odcházíme was named Book of the Year 2004 (LN), won the Magnesia Litera award for prose, and was nominated for the 2004 State Prize for Literature. He passed away in April 2010 at the age of 49.
• Reason for award: In recognition of his outstanding artistic contribution to the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 40th session of the City Assembly, 30 June 2010.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Vilém Stanovský

• Description of activities: General Vilém Stanovský (1896–1972), native of Ostrava; volunteer in the NAZDAR company during World War I, fighter pilot, and recipient of the Legion of Honour. During the occupation, he organized the Resistance (Obrana národa); imprisoned and deported to Dachau concentration camp. After the war, he commanded an air brigade in Prague. After 1948, persecuted by the State Security (StB), imprisoned and tortured; rehabilitated in 1972. In 2000, posthumously awarded the Order of the White Lion by President Václav Havel.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the Czechoslovak Republic, exemplary courage, and extraordinary heroism.
• Awarded by and date: 12th session of the City Assembly, 2 November 2011. 
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Lumír Pivovarský

• Description of activities: Choirmaster and artistic director of the Chorus at the Faculty of Economics, VŠB–TU (founded 1966); also active in the Moravian Teachers’ Choir Association and the Vítkovice Choir; long-time professor at the Department of Music Education at Ostrava University.
• Reason for award: For a lifelong artistic contribution to the city and significant achievements in the education of university students.
• Awarded by and date: 19th session of the City Assembly, 24 October 2012.

Marie Rottrová

• Description of activities: Leading Czech pop singer; spent most of her career in Ostrava (with the group Flamingo), known for TV programs such as Divadélko pod věží. Her artistic influence extends well beyond the regional level.
• Reason for award: For an outstanding artistic contribution to the city, as an expression of recognition and respect on the occasion of the conclusion of her concert career.
• Awarded by and date: 19th session of the City Assembly, 24 October 2012.

Dolores Šavrdová

• Description of activities: Dissident and signatory of Charter 77; wife of writer and political prisoner Jaromír Šavrda (died 1988). She was one of the most prominent Ostrava figures in the anti-communist resistance. She passed away in July 2012.
• Reason for award: For lifelong heroism and contributions to the promotion of freedom and democracy.
• Awarded by and date: 19th session of the City Assembly, 24 October 2012.

Hans Zdražila

• Description of activities: Athlete, record-holder, and Olympian – weightlifter; in 1993, named the best Czech weightlifter of the century.
• Reason for award: For outstanding achievements in sport, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of winning the gold medal in weightlifting (up to 75 kg) at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
• Awarded by and date: 34th session of the City Assembly, 10 September 2014.

Milan Báchorek

• Description of activities: Composer (born 1939), prominent figure in Czech music of the second half of the 20th century and the present. His vocal-symphonic works Lidice, Sterefonietta, and Hukvaldská poéma won the ČSHF Award in 1973. Co-creator and supporter of the Janáčkův máj festival; choirmaster, director, and composition professor at the Janáček Conservatory.
• Reason for award: For significant contributions to the musical culture of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 17th session of the City Assembly, 25 May 2016.

Jaromír Javůrek

• Description of activities: Mgr. Jaromír Javůrek, Ph.D. (born 1955), prominent figure in the cultural life of Ostrava and the region; since 1993, director of the International Music Festival Janáčkův máj. Has long been dedicated to the development of musical art and work with the younger generation; professor at the Janáček Conservatory (conducting, theory, cultural management).
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to the city of Ostrava in the development of musical culture.
• Awarded by and date: 17th session of the City Assembly, 25 May 2016.
   

Oldřich Jurák

• Description of activities: (born 1926) Athlete, coach, and official of TJ Vítkovice. Trained numerous national representatives (e.g., Uvízl, the Klimeš brothers, Černošek, Kašpar, Bílek). Author of a methodology for rehabilitative and relaxation exercises; co-founder of the Zlatá tretra athletics meeting (55 years ago).
• Reason for award: For long-term coaching and organizational contributions to sport in Ostrava and on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
• Awarded by and date: 17th session of the City Assembly, 25 May 2016.

Vladimír Macura

• Description of activities:  PhDr. Vladimír Macura, CSc. (1945–1999), prominent figure in Czech literary studies, internationally recognized expert on 19th-century literature. Translator from Estonian, editor of anthologies of Estonian poets. Laureate of the State Prize for Literature (1998) for the novel Guvernantka and the essays Český sen. Director of the Institute for Czech Literature of the Czech Academy of Sciences (1993–1999).
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to Czech literary scholarship.
• Awarded by and date: 17th session of the City Assembly, 25 May 2016.

Věra Špinarová

• Description of activities: Věra Špinarová (1951–2017), Czech singer. Began her career at age 15; collaborated with the groups Flamingo, Majestic / Ivo Pavlík Orchestra (1969–1984), later with Speciál and others (Nota Bene, Pirillo, Petarda, Royal Beat). In her later years, performed with her son’s band, Adam Pavlík Band.
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to culture and as an expression of respect and recognition for her artistic work.
• Awarded by and date: 26th session of the City Assembly, 10 May 2017. 
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Usain St. Leo Bolt

• Description of activities: Usain St. Leo Bolt (born 1986), Jamaican sprinter; holder of world records in the 100 m (9.58 s, 16 August 2009), 200 m (19.19 s, 20 August 2009), and 4×100 m relay (36.84 s, 2012 Olympics). Also holds the record for the unofficial 150 m distance (14.35 s, May 2009).
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to the city in the field of sport and for promoting Ostrava on a broad international stage.
• Awarded by and date: 27th session of the City Assembly, 21 June 2017.
• Note: The award is not associated with any financial reward.

Alexandra Gasnárková

• Description of activities: Prominent Ostrava actress; engaged with the drama ensemble of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre (NDM) from 1970–2010, still active externally. Performed over 100 roles (e.g., Juliet, Roxana, Lady Macbeth, Manon, Maryša, Marquise de Merteuil). Appears in productions Podivný případ se psem and Je úchvatná!; film and TV appearances (e.g., Diagnóza smrti). Member of the Acting Association commission for the Thalia Awards (Moravian and Silesian theatres).
• Reason for award: For outstanding artistic contributions to the city of Ostrava and long-term teaching activity.
• Awarded by and date: 31st session of the City Assembly, 13 December 2017.

Blažena Przybylová

• Description of activities: Prominent Ostrava archivist and historian, long-time director of the City Archive of Ostrava. Since the 1990s, she shaped the modern form of the archive, developed its publishing activities (e.g., the Ostrava anthology), collaborated with schools, and organized lectures, exhibitions, conferences, and excursions. Tragically passed away on 31 October 2017.
• Reason for award: For exceptional long-term contributions to the city of Ostrava in the fields of city history documentation and archival work.
• Awarded by and date: 31st session of the City Assembly, 13 December 2017.

Renáta Huserová

• Description of activities: Director of the municipal contributory organization Komorní scéna Aréna (since 1994). Transformed a semi-professional stage into a prestigious theatre, recipient of numerous awards (Alfréd Radok 2014; Theatre of the Year 2015; Theatre of the Year 2016, etc.).
• Reason for award: For productive long-term leadership of the municipal organization and outstanding contributions to the development of culture in Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 31st session of the City Assembly, 13 December 2017.

Jiřina Kábrtová

• Description of activities: Director of the municipal contributory organization Ostrava Museum.
• Reason for award: For creative leadership of the municipal organization and contributions to the development of museum activities in Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 31st session of the City Assembly, 13 December 2017.

Hugo Mandovský

• Description of activities: Founder and leader of the Scout center Osmačtyřicítka Ostrava (“Píro”). Over 50 years of work with children and youth; after 1989, co-founder of the 48th center (still active today). Chairman of the District Council of Junák Ostrava; honored for long-term service. Professionally worked at Vítkovice Ironworks as a specialist in coke plant incidents.
• Reason for award: For contributions to the Scouting movement and lifelong leadership of Ostrava Scouting.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 11 December 2019.

Michal Salamonovič

• Description of activities: Native of Ostrava, survivor of the Łódź ghetto and the Auschwitz-Birkenau, Stutthof, and Flossenbürg camps. Tirelessly lectured on the Holocaust and organized visits to former camps. Vice-chairman of the Historical Group Auschwitz and the Terezín Initiative, member of the Jewish Community Ostrava, and the board of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities.
• Reason for award: Special recognition and respect for lifelong principles, personal heroism, and contributions to educating the younger generation about the ideals of the national resistance.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 11 December 2019.

Petr Čolas

• Description of activities: Director of the Ostrava Zoological Garden and Botanical Park.
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to the city of Ostrava in the field of environmental protection.
• Awarded by and date: 16th session of the City Assembly, 16 September 2020.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Lenka Mynářová

• Description of activities: Co-owner of Nafigate Corporation, co-author of the vision for a Europe-significant science-learning center in Ostrava.
• Reason for award: For contributions in the fields of technical education, science, research, and support for talent development.
• Awarded by and date: 27th session of the City Assembly, 10 November 2021.

Josef Pleskot

• Description of activities: Architect, owner of AP Atelier; recipient of numerous awards, author of works that regularly represent Czech architecture at international exhibitions.
• Reason for award: For outstanding contributions to the development of the city in the field of architecture.
• Awarded by and date: 27th session of the City Assembly, 10 November 2021.
   

Ilona Rozehnalová

• Description of activities: Director of the Beautification Association Za krásnou Ostravu and the Fiducia Antiquarian & Club. Organizer of discussions on city development, actively engaged in civic issues.
• Reason for award: In recognition of contributions to civic and community life in the city.
• Awarded by and date: 27th session of the City Assembly, 10 November 2021.

Jarmila Hájková

• Description of activities: Director of the Puppet Theatre Ostrava; played a key role in its artistic and economic growth and in establishing it among leading European stages. Contributed to the construction of its new premises at Černá Louka. The theatre performs approximately 650 shows annually and has offered educational programs for over 15 years.
• Reason for award: In recognition of contributions to the artistic and cultural development of the city.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 18 October 2023.

Zlata Holušová

• Description of activities: Founder, director, and chief dramaturge of the Colours of Ostrava festival; recipient of two Anděl Awards, listed among the TOP Women of the Czech Republic, and recognized by Forbes as one of the most influential women.
• Reason for award: In recognition of contributions to the development of the city in the field of music and cultural life.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 18 October 2023.

Petr Mitáček

• Description of activities: Co-founder and long-time member of the Committee of Friends of Public Transport in Ostrava; initiator of the association of public transport enthusiasts. Over 40 years, contributed to the preservation of 34 historic public transport vehicles for the city’s collection; dedicated thousands of volunteer hours without compensation.
• Reason for award: In recognition of contributions to the city in the field of public transport.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 18 October 2023.

Josef Jařab

• Description of activities: The first freely elected rector in post-revolutionary Czechoslovakia; rector of Central European University in Budapest; first president of the European Association of Americanists from the former Eastern Bloc; Senator of the Czech Republic, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; recipient of significant awards and honorary doctorates. Lived in Ostrava for approximately 20 years, taught at VŠB, briefly worked at NHKG and Důl Alexander, and organized Student Fridays.
• Reason for award: In recognition of contributions to the city in the fields of politics, science, culture, and sport.
• Awarded by and date: 11th session of the City Assembly, 18 October 2023.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Štěpánka Ranošová

• Description of activities: Founding figure of the ensembles Kytice, Divadlo mladých, and Městské divadlo mladých; member of the Divadlo Petra Bezruče from 1955 until the late 1980s. Also performed in the drama ensemble of NDM; last role as nanny Anfisa in Three Sisters (2001). Active in television and film; continues to follow theatrical developments.
• Reason for award: As a special recognition for contributions to the artistic and cultural development of the city.
• Awarded by and date: 14th session of the City Assembly, 27 March 2024.

Jiří Hanousek

• Description of activities: Leading Czech cellist, graduate of the Ostrava Conservatory (studied with Ivan Měrka and Jan Hališka) and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU) under Miloš Sádlo; laureate of the Prague Spring Competition. Soloist and concertmaster of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava; extensive international activity; pedagogue at the Janáček Conservatory and the Faculty of Arts, Ostrava University.
• Reason for award: As a special recognition for extraordinary contributions to the development of the city of Ostrava in the fields of art and culture.
• Awarded by and date: 14th session of the City Assembly, 27 March 2024.

Viktor Kolář

• Description of activities: Internationally recognized documentary photographer consistently documenting Ostrava; named Personality of Czech Photography (2010). Created a monumental, sensitive, and multi-layered portrait of the city; exhibited across Europe and the USA, with work that transcends the boundaries of photography as a medium.
• Reason for award: In recognition of cultural contributions to the development of the city in the fields of art and photography.
• Awarded by and date: 14th session of the City Assembly, 27 March 2024.

Patricia Burda Janečková

• Description of activities: Gained recognition by winning Talentmania (2010); debuted with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra at age 12. Performed in Ostrava theaters and regularly collaborated with the JFO; studied at the Janáček Conservatory and the Faculty of Arts of Ostrava University; performed domestically and abroad. Despite a short career, made a significant impact on the Ostrava arts scene.
• Reason for award: In recognition of extraordinary contributions to the city’s development in the field of arts and culture.
• Awarded by and date: 14th session of the City Assembly, 27 March 2024.
• Note: Awarded in memoriam.

Ota Filip

• Description of activities: Writer, author of the key novel about Ostrava The Ascension of Lojzek Lapáček from Slezská Ostrava (1974). Native of Slezská Ostrava; after imprisonment (1969–1970) he emigrated in 1974 to Germany (Murnau). Recipient of the Medal of Merit, 2nd class (2012), member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Arts; editor at Profil publishing house; author of works such as Cesta ke hřbitovu, Kavárna Slávia, Sousedé a ti ostatní, among others.
• Reason for award: In recognition of his cultural contribution to the development of the city in the field of literary activity.
• Awarded by and date: 14th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 27 March 2024.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.

Norbert Lichý

• Description of activities: Exceptional theatre, film, and radio actor, voice actor, and musician; legendary figure of the Petr Bezruč Theatre (1987–2024). Made a significant contribution to shaping the cultural identity of the city.
• Reason for award: In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of Ostrava in the field of arts and culture.
• Awarded by and date: 14th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 27 March 2024.
• Note: Award granted in memoriam.
   

Marie Viková (Tuláčková)

• Description of activities: She is among the most prominent Czech actresses and built her career at the Petr Bezruč Theatre in Ostrava, where she performed a wide range of roles—far too many to list in full. Notable examples include roles in productions such as Mother Courage, Jenůfa, and Lady Morning. She also appeared in fairy-tale plays, for example Playtime with the Devil. Audiences could also see her in television series and films. She shared her experience by teaching at schools, folk and arts institutions, and the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava.
• Reason for award: In recognition of her contribution to the artistic, theatrical, and cultural development of the city.
• Awarded by and date: 26th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 22 October 2025.
   

Pavel Cisovský 

• Description of activities: Founder of one of the smallest professional theatres with a permanent ensemble in Ostrava, the Komorní scéna Aréna, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Mr. Pavel Cisovský is an outstanding actor and director in Ostrava.
• Reason for award: For his contribution to the artistic, theatrical, and cultural development of the city.
• Awarded by and date: 26th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 22 October 2025.

Kateřina Macečková

• Description of activities: Longtime director of the Folklore Without Borders festival. Ms. Kateřina Macečková continues to assist in organizing the event and has dedicated her life to folklore. She passes this national heritage on to the youngest generation and has led the Hlubinka folklore ensemble since 1992. She successfully connects folklore groups from around the world, allowing people to enjoy folklore in the streets, squares, and senior homes.
• Reason for award: For her outstanding contribution to the artistic and cultural development of the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 26th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 22 October 2025.

Lenka Kocierzová

• Description of activities: She helps promote the city of Ostrava through a wide range of works as a graphic artist, illustrator, poet, chronicler, and photographer. For over 20 years, she has guided walks around Ostrava as part of the "Under the Hat" program, sharing the city’s beauty with some 5,000 people. A gallery in the Sluníčko Senior Home bears her name, and she created another gallery in Ostrava’s Vítkovice district. She also collaborated on mapping Ostrava locations as part of the "Vanished Neighbors" program.
• Reason for award: For her outstanding contribution to the artistic and cultural development of the city of Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 26th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 22 October 2025.

Edita Kozinová

• Description of activities: She left an indelible mark on public life, influenced generations of residents, and her legacy continues through numerous projects. In Ostrava, she founded and led the family and community center Chaloupka for 20 years. She significantly contributed to the creation of the first systematic framework for family policy at the municipal level. She supported the establishment and development of community centers, intergenerational projects, local clubs, and neighborhood initiatives. She also devoted long-term attention to foster care services.
• Reason for award: For exceptional and long-term contributions in the fields of family policy, community life development, and support of foster care in Ostrava.
• Awarded by and date: 26th meeting of the City Assembly of Ostrava, 22 October 2025.
• Note: The award was given in memoriam.