Welcome
The Štěpán Zavřel Foundation is dedicated to research and education in the field of editorial illustration for children.
It was founded based on the artistic and human experience of the master Štěpán Zavřel (Prague, 1932 – Sarmede, 1999), who, in 1968, chose Sarmede as the ideal place to create and share knowledge.
The small village in the Prealps of Treviso soon became an innovative center for illustration, attracting young talents fascinated by the master’s teachings.
This artistic and educational heritage took concrete form in the annual International Exhibition of Illustration “Le Immagini della Fantasia”, founded in 1983, and the International School of Illustration, established in 1988.
Štěpán Zavřel in the garden of his home | Fondazione Zavrel Photographic Archive
From its very beginning, the Exhibition has been characterized by its itinerant nature, reaching important cultural venues such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Kindermuseum in Frankfurt, the United Nations Palace in Geneva, and the Museum of Modern Art in Shaanxi, China.
The International School of Illustration operates year-round, offering specialized training both in person and online, catering to professionals in the fields of art, illustration, writing, and education.
Inside Štěpán Zavřel Museum | Ph Otium
Next to the Casa della Fantasia, the Municipality of Sarmede hosts the Štěpán Zavřel Museum, whose exhibition route provides an opportunity to reflect on the Master’s legacy through a collection of sixty original works.
The Foundation has been honored twice with the Andersen Prize. In 2010 for its role in promoting books and reading and in 2012 for the book “Nel bosco della Baba Jaga, fiabe dalla Russia”, published in collaboration with Franco Cosimo Panini.
Accanto alla Casa della Fantasia, il Municipio di Sarmede ospita il Museo Štěpán Zavřel, il cui percorso espositivo vuole essere un’opportunità di riflessione sull’eredità lasciata dal Maestro attraverso il racconto di sessanta opere originali.
La Fondazione è stata insignita per due volte dal Premio Andersen: nel 2010 come ente promotore nella diffusione del libro e della lettura e nel 2012 per il libro “Nel bosco della Baba Jaga, fiabe dalla Russia”, edito in collaborazione con Franco Cosimo Panini.
Nel 2024 ha ricevuto il Jiří Trnka Award 2024, premio attribuito dall’Università di West Bohemia, facoltà d’arte e design, per il lavoro svolto a favore dell’illustrazione.