The Hungarian Cultural Centre London was proud to participate at this year’s Chelsea History Festival between 17-27 September 2020. The festival took place both physically and virtually with an exciting programme of talks, tours and events presented by three iconic institutions: the National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden. The Hungarian Cultural Centre contributed with two events, aiming to present Hungary’s unique position during crucial times in history, such as the Great War and the regime changes of 1989/90.
In the 1980s István Orosz, poster designer and animator, designed posters for museums, theatres, galleries, and cinemas during the day and was a member of multiple, illegal anti-Communist artist groups during the night. In this presentation, filled with creative graphics, he highlighted not only his symbolism in graphic designs but shared the unique artistic atmosphere of the 1980s in a country on the brink of democratization.
In the panel discussion, focusing on the peace talks after the First World War British and Hungarian experts explored similarities and differences after 1920 seemingly brought an agreement to cease fire on the old continent. In this trailblazing discussion, chief historian of Hungary's WWI Remembrance Committee, Dr Maria Schmidt, and former senior adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, John O'Sullivan re-discovered the aftermath of the Great War and how it transformed the societies of the British Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire into what we call Great Britain and Hungary today.