Organisational and Useful Information
🚪 Arrival
Participants are expected to arrive on Friday approximately between 15:30 and 18:00, when the conference officially opens. During this time, members of the organising team will be waiting for participants at the entrance with gift bags and all necessary information. The identity of arriving participants will be checked against the participant list.
Of course, it is also possible to arrive earlier, later, or on another day of the conference. In that case, please inform us in advance. Upon arrival, approach a member of the organising team, clearly identifiable by their badges, and check in with them.
📋 Programme
The complete programme for this year is already available on the conference website. Minor changes cannot be ruled out, for example due to a speaker's illness, but no major changes are expected at this point.
Each participant will receive a booklet containing the programme and lecture abstracts upon arrival at the conference.
💬 Messenger
We will be setting up a dedicated Messenger group for conference participants so that we can quickly share news related to the conference, provide necessary information, and respond flexibly to any issues that may arise, for example concerning transport.
Please let us know if you would like to be added to the group, and ideally also tell us how we can find you on Messenger/Facebook.
Of course, information will continue to be shared via email, our website, and social media as well.
📍 Venue
As in previous years, the conference will take place at Mahen Memorial, Mahenova 8, Brno. The Memorial is a three-storey villa dating from the First Czechoslovak Republic, with a garden, located in the quiet residential Masaryk Quarter. The building is administered by the Jiří Mahen Library, which co-organises the conference.
Mahen Memorial – View on Google Maps
🏛️ Conference Premises
On Friday and Saturday, the entire villa is reserved for the conference. In addition to the multifunctional hall in the attic, we will therefore also be able to make use of the museum, library, and garden areas, offering plenty of pleasant corners and places to sit, talk, and engage in informal discussions.
On Sunday, the situation is slightly different. The library on the ground floor opens to the general public, while the rest of the building remains reserved for conference use. Therefore, please bear in mind that on Sunday we may encounter people on the ground floor who are not attending the conference.
🚗 Parking
Parking spaces around the Memorial are located within Brno's so-called blue parking zones, specifically Zone "C". For conference visitors, this means that parking is charged only on Friday from 17:00 to 00:00. Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday.
Full information about parking in Brno and other payment options can be found here:
Parking in Brno – Information for Visitors
The first hour of parking is always free and is deducted from the final amount. The organisers will be happy to help you with the payment process, so please do not hesitate to ask.
🚎 Public Transport
The "Žlutý kopec" trolleybus stop, served by trolleybuses No. 38 and 39 from Komenského náměstí, is just around the corner from Mahen Memorial. On weekdays (including Friday), trolleybus No. 35 also runs there from Mendlovo náměstí. The route from the "Žlutý kopec" stop to the Memorial will be indicated by arrow signs in the street.
You can find the departure stop at Komenského náměstí here:
Komenského náměstí – Google Maps
You can find the departure stop at Mendlovo náměstí here (Friday only!):
Mendlovo náměstí – Google Maps
Shortly before the conference, we will once again update you on public transport access to the Memorial. Many streets in Brno are currently under construction, so it is possible that some transport routes may change, as has happened to us in previous years. For the time being, however, we are not aware of any changes.
🥗 Food, Allergies, and Dietary Preferences
Refreshments and drinks will be continuously available throughout the conference. During Friday's welcome evening, you can also look forward to a buffet dinner. All refreshments are included in the conference fee. We are also planning options for participants with allergies, as well as vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
Therefore, we would once again like to ask you to let us know whether you have any allergies or medical dietary restrictions so that we can adjust the catering accordingly. Likewise, please let us know if you are vegetarian or vegan.
🍽️ Lunches and Dinners
As mentioned above, Friday's dinner will be part of the welcome evening. On the remaining days, however, everyone will cover their own lunch and dinner expenses.
As every year, we are planning group visits to tried-and-tested restaurants in Brno for lunch and dinner. Participation is not compulsory, but it is recommended. Thanks to the larger group size, we are often able to arrange better prices, and travelling together also allows us to continue smoothly with the following parts of the programme.
Therefore, we would like to ask you to let us know whether you are interested in joining the group lunches and dinners so that we can include you in the reservations.
🛏️ Accommodation
If you need help finding suitable accommodation in Brno, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will try to assist you.
Participants from previous years have spoken positively, for example, about Penzion Zahrada, which is within walking distance of the Memorial.
🚘 Carpooling
If you are travelling to the conference by car with some seats to spare and are willing to offer a ride, please get in touch with us.
Likewise, let us know if you are looking for a ride. We will be happy to help connect participants and facilitate an agreement.
🗺️ Sightseeing Tour in Brno
As every year, the conference's accompanying programme will include a tour of interesting places in Brno connected to occultism.
Advance registration is required for the tour, if you have not already done so. In order to arrange site visits and organise the tour programme, we need to know the number of expected participants in advance.
📚 Book Bazaar & Swap & Jam Session 🎸
On Saturday evening (approx. 17:00–18:00), the traditional book bazaar will take place, where you can offer your books for sale and buy other interesting titles. A number of Czech and Slovak occult publishers will also traditionally participate, offering their books at discounted prices.
On Sunday afternoon (approx. 12:00–14:00), there will be an Occult Swap – an exchange of occult items, jewellery, art, clothing, and other curiosities. Swap what you no longer need for things that might be useful to you!
And since music and singing are part of our conference evenings, the traditional jam session will not be missing either. If you play a musical instrument, don't forget to bring it along!
📹 Live Stream, Photography, and GDPR
Lectures and panel discussions will be filmed and broadcast live via the conference website and social media. Recordings will be made available afterwards.
Designated photographers will also document the conference. The photographs and recordings may be used for the documentation and promotion of the conference.
By entering the conference, participants acknowledge and agree to the taking and publication of photographic and audiovisual recordings. The recording and use of such materials are governed by applicable legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
📣 Spreading the Word
A positive experience and a personal recommendation are the best forms of publicity. Therefore, we would like to ask you to help spread the word about our conference among your friends, colleagues, and on social media, especially if you have already attended one of the previous editions or if you will be speaking at the conference.
☎️
Important Contacts
If you have any questions, are missing any information or payment confirmation, or would like to share anything with us, please do not hesitate to use the following contacts.
Key Contacts for the Organising Team:
EN/CZ — Petr Soukup
Marketing Communication, Press Officer
+420 723 652 371 (WhatsApp available)
Facebook / Messenger – Petr Soukup
CZ — Jan Ševčík
Conference Convener, Mahen Memorial