European Culture Congress
dal 7/9/2011 al 10/9/2011
Segnalato da
7/9/2011
European Culture Congress
Different venues, Wroclaw
With over 300 prominent artists, academics, philosophers and activists. Within the framework of the Congress, as many as 100 interdisciplinary projects will be carried out, including nearly 20 concerts, 7 exhibition openings, 12 theatre shows, 15 film screenings, interactive workshops, projects prepared by representatives of non-governmental organisations and over 40 accompanying events.
The European Culture Congress, one of the major events of the cultural programme of Polish Presidency, starts in Wrocław on September 8. The Congress will feature over 300 prominent artists, academics, philosophers and activists. Over 100 events shall take place within the framework of the Congress, including debates, meetings, exhibitions, installations, theatre shows, performances, film screenings and interactive workshops. The Congress will be held until September 11.
During the inauguration gala, speeches will delivered by: the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Financial Programming and the Budget Janusz Lewandowski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski and the Mayor of the City of Wrocław Rafał Dutkiewicz. The inauguration ceremony will he hosted by the Director of the National Audiovisual Institute Michał Merczyński.
The inaugural lecture will be given by Professor Zygmunt Bauman, an eminent Polish philosopher and sociologist. Professor Bauman will refer to his latest book, prepared especially for the Congress. His presentation will concern, among others, the role of the EU in shaping contemporary culture, relations between culture and globalisation processes, as well as those between art and politics.
The European Culture Congress provides a space for debate on community within variety and an opportunity for reflecting on the perspectives and possible scenarios of European culture development. The main theme of the Congress will be Art for Social Change - a concept relating to the attitude of an active and aware culture participant and creator. It refers to perceiving art as a tool for social change, a source of inspiration for innovation and critical thinking.
Over the course of four days, the Centennial Hall will gather 0ver 300 artists, artists, academics, philosophers and activists, including: Krystian Lupa, Brian Eno, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jonny Greenwood, Mirosław Bałka, Zbigniew Libera or Pekka Himanen. Key elements of the Congress will be meetings and discussions pertaining to the most important issues of contemporary culture. Thirteen debates held during the Congress will feature, among others: Gianni Vattimo, Olivero Toscani, Jan Fabre, Krzysztof Wodiczko, Jacek Żakowski, Azra Akšamija, Dejan Ilič, Stefan Kaegi, Rick Falkvinge, Richard Barbrook, Pekka Himanen, Guy Sorman, István Szabó, Krzysztof Czyżewski. The meeting organised in the framework of the "A Soul of Europe" initiative will provide and opportunity for confronting EU politicians with representatives of the non-governmental sector. The goal of the debate will be to develop practical solutions that foster changes in the approach to culture in discussions and budgets at the EU level.
Within the framework of the Congress, as many as 100 interdisciplinary projects will be carried out, including nearly 20 concerts, 7 exhibition openings, 12 theatre shows, 15 film screenings, interactive workshops, projects prepared by representatives of non-governmental organisations and over 40 accompanying events. Wrocław will see an unprecedented meeting of prominent musicians and composers. One of the projects will team Krzysztof Penderecki with Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead guitarist and Aphex Twin, a guru of contemporary electronic music. One of the events prepared especially for the Congress is the premiere of “Waiting Room.0" - a play by Krystian Lupa and Dorota Masłowska.
The interdisciplinary schedule of the Congress has been structured to combine cultural theory with practice, propose a problem-based approach to culture, as well as integrate genres and artistic disciplines. The Congress, whose formula resembles rather a socio-cultural festival than a purely academic debate, is focused on active participation; many events are open to the general public and take place within the urban space of Wrocław. One of them is Brian Eno's multimedia show around Wrocław Fountain or Groupe F's firework show near Słodowa Island.
The venue of the Congress is the area around the newly-renovated Centennial Hall, including the Hall itself, Feature Film Studio and the Four Dome Pavilion. Events will be held within the scenography prepared in front of the Centennial Hall especially for the Congress by the group who designed the Polish pavilion at EXPO in Shanghai, that is Boris Kudlička – stage designer for The Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, and architects of the WWAA workshop. The powerful axis of the monumental Centennial Hall will be softened by this ephemeral scenography.
The European Culture Congress is organized by the National Audiovisual Institute. The event is a part of the Cultural Program of the Polish EU Presidency.
For more information, go to: www.culturecongress.eu
Media contact:
Agnieszka Wolak, public relations officer for the National Audiovisual Institute
T. +48 22 3804975 M. 0503 099013 E-mail: agnieszka.wolak@nina.gov.pl
The inaugural lecture was given by Professor Zygmunt Bauman.