The traditional and very popular May Day celebration will once again take place in the premises of Villa of Tomas Bata and its adjacent garden. This Bata tradition has been maintained by the Tomas Bata Foundation since its establishment and thus continues the idea of Tomas Bata, the founder, who considered it important to thank his colleagues and the citizens of the city of Zlín for their work throughout the year.
Tomas Bata started celebrating May Day in 1924. It was more or less his personal protest. The celebrations in the city were organized by the communist party, and Tomas Bata did not agree that the celebration of Labour Day should be the responsibility of the communist party only, so he decided to organize his own.
"Creating relationships in the community is very important for us, just as it was for Tomas Bata. We should not only be united by work, but also by fun and time spent together. The celebration of the first of May in the villa of the Bata couple offers these possibilities, because it is an event in which families gather energy for the following days and experience pleasant emotions connected with the Bata legacy," said Gabriela Končitíková, director of the Tomas Bata Foundation.
A rich cultural program has always been part of the May Day celebrations. The Tomas Bata Foundation successfully follows up on this part as well. Children can look forward to a morning full of games and competitions, and each competitor shall receive a reward. "We want the Bata legacy to take a concrete form for the youngest visitors. Last year we prepared prizes for them in the form of backpacks with selected Bata slogans, this year we have for them a unique board game With Tomas Bata to Indonesia. This is a reissue of the original from 1932," revealed Jakub Malovaný, project manager of the Tomas Bata Foundation, adding that all adult visitors will definitely enjoy it.
During the celebration, there will be a relaxation zone, tasty refreshments, a photo corner and pleasant music. "This time, a special ensemble of musicians will play, consisting of experienced musicians from Zlín such as Jaroslav Bobowski, Pavel "Kačes" Husár or Stanislav Bartošík, well-known faces from the bands Premier and Fleret, which this year are celebrating important jubilees on the domestic music scene," added Jakub Malovaný.
Two thematic exhibitions will be on display right in the Villa. The general public will be able to see the work of art students of the Basic Art School from Otrokovice, who some time ago painted unique Bata posters, and will also have the opportunity to have a glimpse at the life of Tomas Bata through the newly created exhibition that was created by student of the Tomas Bata University in Zlín Jana Šiváková.
The May Day celebration will take place thanks to the support of the companies Baťa, a.s., Fosfa, a.s. VITAR, s.r.o. and the statutory city of Zlín.
