I, Culture Contemporary Crafts in Tokyo, photo: studio PANATO
With over 400 events in Europe and select Asian capitals, in 2011 Poland presented the most extensive cultural programme to accompany the EU Presidency to date. Warsaw is host to two major exhibitions devoted to the highlights of the season, from Julita Wójcik's "Rainbow" installation at the European Parliament in Brussels and Teatr Biuro Podróży's futuristic tour of Planet Lem to the ambitious I, CULTURE Contemporary Crafts project and the I, CULTURE Orchestra tour of the premier concert halls of Europe
The Zachęta National Gallery welcomes visitors to experience the wealth of the international cultural programme packed into a nutshell, centred on an exhibition combined with creative workshops for adults and children over two weeks in February. Running from the 3rd of February up through the 19th, a neon sculpture designed by the artist Cókierek especially for the exhibition welcomes visitors into this show of works, souvenirs, photographs and video coverage of the events in all ten capitals. The poetry of Miłosz in a spectrum of languages - from French, Spanish and English to Russian, Japanese and Chinese fills the halls of museum, along with the music of Szymanowski performed by young musical talents of I, CULTURE Orchestra and the hottest bands on Poland's alternative music scene, presented by way of the Exploratory Music from Poland tour. Rounding out the video programme, Planet Lem's robots and mucillids put the king of Science Fiction back on the throne with a stupefying original performance, while the Guide to the Poles documentary series presents five ways of discovering the unique qualities that have shaped the Polish spirit over the decades and powered its creative potential in the present.
Simply an exhibition would not suffice, of course, and so museum curators and experts at the Adam Mickiewicz Institute - the brains behind the Cultural Programme operation - came together to create an engaging workshop series for adults and children that bring them into the realm of each project through art, music, movement, crafts and even role-play exercises in which anyone can try their hand at the job of cultural diplomacy. Youngsters can put on their own production of Planet Lem under the direction of Teatr Biuro Podróży actors themselves or be a part of their own youth orchestra.
Poland's Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski addressed the press at a conference on the 2nd of January 2012 to express his belief that even though the Presidency is over, "The events which took place during Poland's Presidency of the EU Council are a long-term investment. We will be seeing the fruit of our efforts in years to come". The decision to sum up the Presidency with a series of exhibitions and events is a gift to the people of Poland, most of whom did not have a chance to take part in any of the events happening around the world.
Simultaneously an open-air exhibition of images from the six-month cultural programme is up along the gate to Warsaw's Łazienki Royal Park from the 1st of February through the end of the month. The promenade along the gate is a popular weekend venue and it is also strategically located across the road from government buildings and embassies.
Later this spring, Julita Wójcik brings her "Rainbow" - an art installation of artificial blossoms molded into the shape of a giant rainbow - set to grace the capital's Plac Zbawiciela - a popular roundabout of cafés and a hub of activity for Poland's young art scene.
A rich programme addressed to children as well as adults which runs at the Zachęta National Gallery alongside the exhibition will crown these reflections, offering audiences the chance for an active learing. In this way, the event won't merely reflect on achievements of the past six months but also relate them to the here and now, and inspire a look into the future.
The programme at Zachęta National Art Gallery encompassing workshops, debates and film screenings kicks off on the 4th of February with a presentation by Paweł Potoroczyn, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Olga Wysocka and the Presidency Project team.
To sign up for any of the workshops, contact programme coordinatorsby email: warsztaty@iam.pl or by phone: 603 704 850
Source: Adam Mickiewicz Institute