Today, an exceptional event took place in Krzyżowa - the vernissage crowning the first part of the Artistic Residence project "Sztuka. Land. Art." It was opened by Anna Kudarewska, program director of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, and was graced by the presence of Doris Wildemann from the Department of Culture of the Consulate General of Germany in Wrocław. The vernissage was also attended by the organizers of the ongoing Krzyżowa-Music Festival, employees of the Krzyżowa Foundation and the participants of the bicycle trip from Oświęcim to Westerbrock, "Terug naar Westerbork", who were visiting us.
Over the past few weeks, two artists from Germany and Poland - Elke Burkert and Jarek Lustych - have been working in Krzyżowa on an artistic statement that would combine nature with the social aspect. This is how the work entitled "Wall can do” was created. The artists decided to use in their work the wall located on the foundation's site, which is now practically useless. It inspired them as a symbol of a division that can be broken not by force, but by daily, repetitive and sometimes arduous work. Similar to what members of the Kreisau Circle did. They was seemingly divided, followers of different views, but worked together on the project of a new state without walls and divi-sions.
Read more: ||REPORT|| Vernissage "wall can do / co w murze może / Mauer kann machen" - 23.08.2021
There are projects that play a special role in the activities of the IYMC. One of these is the "Work Space For Young Artists" at the heart of which lies diversity. We are talking about the socio-cultural diversity of the participants, as well as the diversity of the artistic and pedagogical methods used.
For 7 days, children and young people from Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, coming from various backgrounds, including widely disadvantaged communities, take part in interdisciplinary artistic workshops such as theatre, dance, circus, ceramics and workshops inspired by fabric and wood. The workshops develop the creativity of young people, discover talents and are a form of self-expression as an individual, while the integration games and excursions included in the programme teach cooperation beyond boundaries, overcoming one's own weaknesses, dealing with difficult and unpredictable situations, and living in harmony with nature.
Read more: Next edition of "Work Space For Young Artists" has started! - Krzyżowa, 22-29.08.2021
On Saturday, 21 August 2021, a Netherlands-German-Polish cycling expedition set off from Oświęcim in Poland to Westerbork in the Netherlands on a route of 1320 km. Sixty young people from Poland, Germany and the Netherlands - mostly students - took part in the unusual journey to celebrate 75 (+1) years of peace and freedom in Europe. One of the stops of the rally was Krzyżowa - a place of reconciliation.
"Terug naar Westerbork" ("Back to Westerbork") is a Netherlands initiative to commemorate the 2020 commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The rally was originally planned for last year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic it took place in 2021.
Read more: Participants of the cycling rally "Back to Westerbork" in Krzyżowa - 23.08.2021
Yesterday we said goodbye to the participants of the youth exchange "Human, You Have Rights!". Planned as a meeting of young people from three countries: Poland, Germany and France, it ultimately turned out to be only a Polish-German project. Due to the difficulties caused by the prevailing pandemic, French youth could not, unfortunately, come to Krzyżowa. Nevertheless, we are very pleased that this 10-day youth meeting took place in an international format.
Read more: ||REPORT|| Youth Exchange "Human, You Have Rights" - 9-19.08.2021
