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The Tam-Tam Orchestra is the Czech Republic's only samba band. All three founding members of the band are native Czechs, and though none have ever been to South America, they've dedicated their lives to performing Brazilian and African music in Central Europe.

In this week's Arts we look at two new separate exhibitions opening in and around Prague. The first, at the Hollar gallery on the banks of the Vltava in the Czech capital, opened Wednesday: it brings together work by many of the country's best known graphic designers - who first made their mark some forty years ago. The second exhibition, held just outside of Prague at the Museum of Central Bohemia in Roztoky, also looks at the 60s. It takes something of a playful approach, combining not only a look at Czech glassware and jewellery, but lifestyle

Visitors to the chapel of St. John of Nepomuk on Jungmann Square in Prague will find an exhibit featuring "The Faces of Havana." Photographer Helena Wilsonova's images were captured in Cuba during a 10-day visit in March 1995, and they will be on display in Prague until May 5th. I recently met with Helena Wilsonova in the chapel gallery to talk about her career as a photographer, and she began by explaining what brought her to Cuba in March 1995.

Accompanied by a jarring electrical soundtrack and a bewildering laser display, Petra Hauerova took to the stage in Prague's Ponec Theatre last Friday to present her choreographic work, Turning Machine. In a highly technological display, she threw the audience into a distorted world of humanoid forms, humbling onlookers with the sheer power of the illusions created. Hers is one of a number of performances at this year's Czech Dance Platform, now in its 12th year.

Vladimir Simek and Kamila Broulova-Simkova are a well-known husband & wife team that has been making TV documentaries in different parts of the world - from Baikal, Russia, to South America, for years. Their films air as part of the "Ceske stopy" documentary series that follows in the footsteps of famous Czech adventurers or explorers from the past.

This month, most unusually, three new CDs are being released by three generations of the same very well-known Czech family. EF Burian died almost five decades ago, but a new collection of his works has just hit the shops. His son Jan Burian (53) has just brought out a new double album, as has his son Jiri. Jiri goes by the stage name Gregory Finn and leads a rock band called Southpaw. At a joint launch of all three CDs at Prague's Archa Theatre, he told me a little about his famous grandfather.

In this week's Arts - a winter that's gone on so long, it's inspired one of the country's best known songwriters to composer a tune about it. And a look ahead to the Magnesia Litera awards for best works of literature.

On Thursday evening, the closing ceremonies of Prague's One World documentary film festival honoured Swiss director Eric Bergkraut's film, "Coca: The Dove from Chechnya" with the Rudolf Vrba Award, for the best film in the category of Right to Know. Now in its 8th year, this year the One World festival screened 118 films from 40 different countries. During the festival Eric Bergkraut spoke to me about his film, and why he chose to feature Chechnya in his latest documentary.

The City Gallery Prague's House at the Golden Ring, is currently featuring the works of thirteen British artists at an exhibition called: "Supernova, geometric abstraction reconsidered". The exhibition, which was prepared in cooperation with the British Council and runs until April 30th, shows how contemporary art develops through time. Hence the name Supernova, which (in very simple terms) is a star that explodes and produces so much energy that it can lead to the creation of new stars.

Be afraid - be very afraid - and think twice before you go next go to Slovakia... In this week's edition of the Arts we look at a film that's been a huge success in the United States, but one that's making waves here in the heart of Europe - for all the wrong reasons...