National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

As a VENUE: Host your event…

Whether you are looking for an event space for a company meeting, smaller meeting facilities for a cocktail reception, or a wedding venue, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) has unique rental spaces that can be customized to fit your needs. Whatever the occasion, the Museum can assist in making it spectacular! The NCSML is the premier space rental option in Cedar Rapids, IA. Four distinctive rental spaces are offered:

• WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall: The décor is art nouveau inspired and holds up to 200 seated at round tables or 240 seated in theater style rows. The hall has state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and internet access. It can be divided into two rooms – Hruska or Mitvalsky.
• Naxera Terrace: The Terrace has a wonderful view of the Cedar River and Museum garden area–ideal for cocktail receptions. Two outdoor tent areas can be rented and can each accommodate a tent up to 60 ft X 100 ft.
• Rozek Grand Hall: This space can accommodate 100 people seated at round tables or 180 seated in theater style rows, with views of our elegant chandelier and high ceilings
• Hemphill Theater Rental: The Theater has 51 permanently affixed seats (plus room for wheelchairs)–ideal for presentations and film screenings.

Support the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library …by simply booking your next special occasion here:
https://www.ncsml.org/visit/space-rental/

As a SHOP: Discover unique gifts…

Find unique and custom items imported from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as works by local Iowa artisans, authors, and craftspeople. Merchandise is catalogued within these collections: * Books & Music * Children & Young Adult * Exhibits & Souvenirs * Home & Kitchen * Jewelry & Accessories * Ornaments & Glass, and * Sale.

Support the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library …by simply purchasing your specialty merchandise here:
https://store.ncsml.org/

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

When you support our mission, you help us celebrate life. Czech life. Slovak life. American life. You help us provide relevant and innovative exhibits, programming, educational initiatives, and outreach that sustains our ability to keep telling stories of freedom and identity, family and community, human rights and dignity. Together we connect yesterday with today and tomorrow. The NCSML is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Membership:

All memberships to the NCSML include these standard benefits: Free Admission to all NCSML exhibits, Biannual journal, Slovo, Biannual newsletter, MOST, Discounts in the Museum Store, Free enrollment in Time Travelers Program with benefits at more than 100 museums in 42 states, and invitations to members-only events. Also available to add-on to any level for an additional fee is our Smithsonian Affiliate Membership which gives you the benefits of two memberships in one. Memberships at specified levels are offered: * Individual * Friends & Family * Contributing, and * Sustaining.

Donations:

• Monthly Giving: Our NCSML Clockwork Donors give to the NCSML on a monthly basis, allowing them to make smaller gifts over a longer period of time and making a large impact on the NCSML mission! It’s hassle-free! We’ll automatically take care of your withdrawal so you won’t need to remember it. This is an eco-friendly giving option. No printed forms and no postage involved!
• President’s Society: The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is grateful for the support of its annual giving society members. President’s Society members support the NCSML’s ambitious programming, world-class exhibitions, and educational initiatives. The President’s Society honors those individuals who give $1,000 or more annually to support the mission and programs of the NCSML. Members of the President’s Society will receive an invitation to the President’s Society Preciosa Gala scheduled in the spring of each year. This Society is the museum’s chance to recognize and show appreciation for the members and donors who support the NCSML at this highest levels. The Society offers unique benefits above and beyond those of the average donor or member, and our hope is that Society members find this society meaningful and informative.
• Planned Giving: Any planned gift qualifies you for membership in the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Legacy Society, which includes an invitation to an annual, exclusive brunch honoring those invested in our future. Planned Giving options include:
  • Wills and Bequests: These are the easiest and most common legacy gifts, and usually involve naming the NCSML as a beneficiary in your will or trust. Types of bequests may include a specific amount or a specific asset, a percentage of your estate or trust, or the balance of your estate or trust after gifts to other beneficiaries have been made.
  • Charitable Remainder Trust: A legal trust is created providing you and/or your loved one(s) a regular fixed payment for a specified period of time or for life. Income, capital gains, and/or estates taxes can be reduced or eliminated. At the conclusion of the period of time, or upon your death, the remaining assets within the trust transfer to the NCSML.
  • Charitable Gift Annuity: This is similar to Charitable Trusts, but simpler. With a charitable gift annuity, you transfer cash or marketable securities to the NCSML and, in return, the NCSML issues an annuity contract to pay a fixed payment for life to you and/or your beneficiary. Upon your or your beneficiary’s death, the fund transfers to benefit the NCSML.
  • Gifts of Life Insurance: There are a number of ways to utilize life insurance as a planned giving tool. The most common include, but are not limited to, donating a policy’s accumulated cash value, listing the NCSML as a beneficiary, or assigning ownership of a policy listing the NCSML as that policy’s beneficiary.
  • Gifts of Appreciated Stock: Making a gift of appreciated securities can provide you with significant tax benefits. One benefit is that you do not pay the capital gains tax on the appreciation that otherwise would have been required had you first sold the stock and then made a cash gift.
• Dedicate a Paver: Celebrate important people in your life at an organization that celebrates life. This is a perfect place to honor relatives, family members, teachers, friends and others you admire, appreciate and love. Honor others by placing their names among the pavers in the NCSML Heritage Garden.
• Wall of Tribute Plaque Listing: Have your loved one’s name join the others who have been honored on our Wall of Tribute or share an important message of pride and love here.
• Friends of Sleger House: Honor your ancestors of any cultural background at Sleger Home as a commemoration to the courage, hope and commitment they exhibited to make a new life in America. Associate your name or that of a loved one with the popular Sleger Immigrant Home. The Friends fund will support the maintenance of this important historic artifact.
• Dedicate a Theater Seat: Choose this special gathering place at the NCSML to honor someone in the place where guests and visitors watch movies and presentations.
• Dedicate a Picnic Table: Think of that special person for whom sitting outside brought them joy, or for whom picnics held fond memories.
• Slovo Magazine Sponsorship: (One available per issue; two issues per year) Our premier magazine is a unique and special place to honor your family, loved ones, organization or culture with a special message specially designed for you as the back cover of an issue. You get the full back cover to honor someone special. A professional designer will create a cover you will be proud of. You will also receive a framed set of the front and back covers of your issue. All members receive this award-winning magazine.

Volunteer: One of the best ways to experience the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is to be a volunteer! The heart of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, is its volunteer corps. Many of our volunteers give their time and talents daily, weekly or for special programs or annual events. We are honored to have so many volunteers from right here in the Cedar Rapids community. Some are the first to greet you when visiting, while others are working hard behind-the-scenes to ensure the NCSML maintains its status of being a world-class museum and local gem that it is today. We are always looking for new volunteers and offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities, from on-going to event or program-based. Take a look below at our Cedar Rapids volunteering needs to see if something interests you!