THE CENTRE FOR CULTURE AND CIVIC INITIATIVES IN PODKOWA LEŚNA — expert in audience engagement in a Garden City!
This centre is a place where the inhabitants of Podkowa Leśna can meet. Podkowa Leśna, a small town 30 kilometres south-west of Warsaw, is a Garden City [to find out more about the topic, see 'Nature Meets Culture: Poland’s Garden Cities' or check out this wiki about the Garden City movement]. Its mission is to strengthen the local community by inspiring, supporting grassroots activities and cultural education of the inhabitants of Podkowa, so that they consciously participate in culture and contribute to their "little homeland". Therefore, they work with local partners such as cultural and educational institutions, NGOs, parishes, volunteers, informal groups, local leaders, and individuals. People not only participate in the proposed activities, but create their own activities, e.g. during its flagship event "Open Gardens Festival". They try to guarantee that the activities they propose empower the development of potential for everyone, regardless of individual artistic or other abilities. They are open to dialogue and discussion, because culture is a great platform to build bridges over divisions. Some examples of their activities: Open Generation University (a comprehensive offer for seniors) — Cinema and Outdoor Cinema Project — Classical and jazz concerts — European Heritage Days — Congress of Polish Garden Cities — Presentation of the work of local artists — Promotion of local cultural heritage related to Podkowa Leśna and its history and the Garden City movement — etc.
Since: 2008
Staff members: 5-10
Expertise: Participation / audience engagement in a Garden City
Target groups: They reach the community in its diversity.
Areas of work: Sociocultural activities & cultural mediation — Artistic activities — Community & civic activities — Art education, cultural education & other educational activities — International projects (EU and beyond) / managing EU funds — Event management — Capacity building activities / Courses / Trainings / Lifelong learning activities — Cultural distribution and promotion
Fields of work: Theatre — Music — Dance — Street art — Amateur art — Historical sites and buildings (tangible culture heritage) — Painting, drawing — Photography — Film, video
Topics of work: Intergenerational relations & ageing — Children (0-12 years old) — Young people (13-30 years old) — Participation / audience engagement — Impact of cultural activities — Territorial development in non-urban areas — Revitalisation / activation of public space — Voluntary art / work — Tourism — Gastronomy
EU/International cooperation: Grundwig project, Conference of European Garden Cities — International cooperation with other Garden Cities (Hellerau in Germany, Letchworth in the UK, Wekerletelep in Hungary, Meżapark in Latvia)
Priorities for the network: Networking between cultural centres across Europe, exchanging experiences and building common projects together — High interest in cooperation on the following topics: sustainable development, ecology in arts and cultural activities, cultural and natural heritage protection and promotion, specificity of the cultural sectors in Central and Eastern Europe
