Selected Edition of Jan Patočka’s Work
Published by Bloomsbury Publishers Ltd, this book was commissioned and delivered by Graham Henderson. Jan Patočka was an important C20th century Czech philosopher who argued that the arts play a central part in articulating human values and identities, and that they contribute directly to civil society. In the Selected Edition some of Patočka’s key essays were made available in English for the first time, and these provoked a flurry of new interest in Patočka’s ideas. The book also represented an innovative approach to publishing, allowing important but relatively niche content to be published on a commercial basis. Graham obtained key sponsorships which paid for the significant costs of the translation, effectively de-risking the publication for Bloomsbury.
Accompanied by a programme of live events and musical performances in London and in Prague, and by academic conferences and seminars, the publication achieved a significant cultural impact, actively contributing to on-going debates about the contribution of the arts and arts education to a healthy and dynamic society and economy.
As a project this demonstrates how much can be done with the help of targeted sponsorship deals, strategic partnerships with other cultural institutions, and the imaginative promotion of important content to new audiences.
The Echéa Quartet (photo above) performed at the live Patočka related event in London.
The Selected Writings of Jan Patocka: Care for the Soul: Jan Patocka: Bloomsbury Academic
For more information email The Company of Adventurers at [email protected]
Links
Bloomsbury Publishers Ltd
Patočka Archive
Erin Plunkett
Echéa Quartet