IDC invites members to apply to attend the Trade Mission to the Czech Republic: Glass, Light and Design in Pargue, Liberec and surroundings, Oct. 4 – 9, 2026, organized by the Czech Consulate General in Toronto.
The expert mission will provide an insight into contemporary and traditional Czech design, glass manufacturing, glass use in interior design, lighting and glassware, current Czech design trends as well as insights into Czech architecture. The mission will take you to Prague, to the Crystal Valley, a unique glassmaking region in the north of the Czech Republic, and will bring you to Designblok, the Prague International Design Festival, with this year’s topic of Light!
Dates: October 4 – 9, 2026
Locations: Czech Republic – Prague, Liberec and surroundings
Sign up by July 31. Attendance will be subject to a selection process and will be confirmed by organizers.
What participants receive:
- Accommodation, local transport and main meals during the official part of the trade mission are covered by the organizers.
- The organizers do not cover flight tickets and additional costs (stay extension, insurance, additional expenses related to travel to the Czech Republic, visa costs if needed, personal expenses etc.)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
(tentative – can be subject to change)
October 4 – Individual arrival to Prague, introductory dinner
October 5 – 6 – Program in Prague:
- Program at the Desigblok festival (the largest exhibition of design and fashion in central and eastern Europe) – Professionals’ Day and meetings with design and architecture studios, conference program Future of Design, Future of Achitecture
- Visit to selected showrooms (Bomma, Moser etc.), meeting with Czech and Moravian Glass Cluster, UMPRUM
- Tour of Prague, introduction to Czech architecture
October 7 – 9 – Program in Crystal Valley, Liberec Region:
- Local architecture, tour of traditional and contemporary glassmaking
- LASVIT (Glass House), Glassworks AJETO (Lasvit Group) (LASVIT as a global leader in customized glass and light designs – produces site-specific glass lighting installations, lighting and glassware collections, and artisanal glass for architecture)
- Pačinek Glass (exterior applications of glass, linked to the movie industry incl. Glass Onion)
- Glassworks Jilek, Klimchi (interior design incl. glass walls; traditional glassmaking process)
- Preciosa Lighting (large light installations for hotels, palaces etc., work with technologies)
October 9 afternoon – Return to Prague, program ends
Optional: Attend the rest of the Designblok festival till October 11, additional individual stay in Prague or visit to other parts of the Czech Republic
APPLY HERE by July 31, 2026
