The places of the Forum for the Future of Culture 2022:

Wrocławski Dom Literatury (Wrocław House of Literature) is an institution created within  Europejska Stolica Kultury Wrocław 2016 (the European Capital of Culture). It organizes literary events - from meetings with authors in Proza Club, through educational projects, book fairs, and publishing activities (Warstwy Publishing), to festivals and awards (i.e. The Angelus Central European Literature Award and International Poetry Festival Silesius). It is also a partner from the city of Wrocław’s side with the Olga Tokarczuk Foundation and it leads international literary projects, such as the International Cities Of Refuge Network (ICORN). In 2019, thanks to the application prepared by WDL’s team, Wrocław joined the Creative Cities Network of UNESCO as a City of Literature.

Pałac Kultury Zagłębia (Zagłębie Palace of Culture) in Dąbrowa Górnicza was established in 1958. The main mission of the Palace is to provide possibilities to be around art and culture, to develop skills, spend free time and pursue passions for the citizens of Dąbrowa Górnicza and the areas around it. The institution also has an educational program for children and teenagers. In the monumental building of the Palace, there is a big performance hall with a rotating stage and a rich backstage area, an intimate cinema, an art gallery, a theatrical basement, a representative mirror hall, a cafe, and some smaller rooms for organizing various workshops and classes.

Teatr Polski w Poznaniu (Polish Theater in Poznań) is the oldest theater in Poland, working non-stop since 1875. Helena Modrzejewska, Gabriela Zapolska, Stefan Jaracz, Władysław Hańcza and others performend on its stage. The building survived the Second World War and resumed its activity in March of 1945. The theater operates for the common good and it closely observes the phrase that can be found on its facade - „Naród sobie” (The nation for itself). It’s a benevolent theatre for all audiences, fighting all forms of discrimination: generational, moral, physical, worldview, and class. It searches for common issues and it provides important moments of togetherness. In an alliance with the audience and multiple manifestations of local and social activism, it searches for a new shape of a community.

Spółdzielnia Ogniwo w Krakowie (Nexus Cooperative in Kraków) is an intimate bookstore and a house of culture that was established in 2014 and now it organizes meetings with authors, political debates, workshops, concerts, and film screenings. It also cooperates with Festiwal Conrada (Conrad Festival) and Weekend Księgarń Kameralnych (the Weekend of Intimate Bookstores). This is a friendly space for non-governmental organizations from Kraków and independent initiatives supporting tolerance, minorities, and the fight for women’s rights. It continuously cooperates with Stowarzyszenie Queerowy Maj (Queer May Association) and Stowarzyszenie Miasto Wspólne (Common City Association). As a work cooperative, it promotes the ideas of social economy and it collaborates with other work and social cooperatives all around Poland. 

Galeria Arsenał w Białymstoku (Arsenal Gallery in Białystok) was created in 1965 as one of Biura Wystaw Artystycznych (the Offices of Artistic Exhibitions). For years it has been implementing a coherent and consistent exhibition program. It presents and promotes the newest art from different types of media, providing a view of the most important and most interesting phenomena in Polish modern art. A special place in the program of Arsenal is taken up by projects regarding the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Central Europe, showing tendencies and changes appearing in the modern art of these regions. An intensively expanded educational program - Plac Zabaw Arsenał (Arsenal  Playground) - that speaks about the newest art on different levels and in different languages accompanies the exhibitions.

Teatr „Maska” w Rzeszowie (“Mask” Theater in Rzeszów) was established in 1956 and is the only professional puppet theater in Podkarpacie. To the artistic achievements of the theater, over 260 premiers can be included, and every year it is visited by over 55000 spectators. The repertoire is dominated by shows for the young and the youngest viewers. The theater performs on its own stage in Rzeszów and all around Podkarpackie Voivodeship. It provides theatrical education that familiarizes young spectators with the secrets of the theatrical arts. In the theater’s structure, there is also Muzeum Lalek Teatralnych (Museum of Theatrical Puppets). In the foyer there is a Gallery, presenting children’s artwork, as well as the works of professional artists, being especially open for debuting creators. 

Teatr Polski w Bydgoszczy (Polish Theater in Bydgoszcz) is a theatrical institution, that also provides artistic, cultural, creative and educational activities. Opened in 1949, is still the only dramatic theater in the city. For over 70 years, it has been a place for shaping the sensitivity and cultural competencies of the citizens of this region. Since 2002, the theater has also been an organizer of Festiwal Prapremier (Premieres Festival). The originator of this enterprise was the former director of Teatr Polski - Adam Orzechowski. Outside of the main activities of the theater, which is producing theatrical plays based on a permanent cast, it also supports education and culture and promotes upbringing through art. Teatr Polski is also a space of lively discussions around our current reality, thanks to its debates, panels, and meetings with representatives from the world of art, culture, and science.

Świetlica Krytyki Politycznej w Cieszynie (the Common Room of Political Criticism in Cieszyn) is a space for meetings and debates about important topics, such as tolerance, responsibility, history, climate, or solidarity, that was established in 2009. It’s a place connecting culture, education, politics, and social activities. The guiding idea for this Common Room was a symbolic pushing of boundaries, not due to the cross-border character of the city, but because of the cultural, worldview, and social differences separating the citizens. Many educational activities, theatrical workshops, tutoring and seminars for the youth are organized in the Common Room. In 2014, the Common Room’s team was appreciated by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for their achievements in the area of cultural education and support for volunteering.

Teatr Współczesny w Szczecinie (Modern Theater in Szczecin) was established in 1976. It mostly puts out modern plays, both Polish and foreign, which are often premiers of shows never previously staged. The theater combines a risky search in staging the newest texts with interesting interpretations of classical dramas. It also maintains educational activities: Letnie Warsztaty Teatralne (Summer Theatrical Workshops) for children and teenagers, Pracownia Teatralna (Theatrical Workshop) - a year-round series of workshop meetings for youth, or “Otwieracz” (Opener) project - a cycle of theatrical and therapeutic workshops for children with disabilities. Meetings are finished with premiers of shows prepared by the youth and artists connected with the theater.

Galeria Labirynt w Lublinie (Labyrinth Gallery in Lublin) has been around since 1956. It’s a modern, urban cultural institution and its actions are centred around art. It regularly organizes exhibitions of female and male renowned artists, and also female and male creators who are just debuting. The Gallery also organizes meetings with authors, film screenings, workshops and discussions about current, important issues. The Gallery is constantly reacting to the changing artistic and social reality. Exhibitions organized in the Labyrinth stand out thanks to their timeliness and also to connecting what’s local with what’s universal. The mission of the Gallery is to follow the pulse of the newest art, spot its most interesting phenomena, and discover important contexts.

Dom Przyrody i Kultury w Teremiskach (the House of Nature and Culture in Teremiski) is an association established in 2021 with its headquarters in Białowieża Primeval Forest. The House is now a local house of culture, an educational center, a space for meetings, as well as for cultural and workshop activities. It also hosts various social initiatives, offering its space and also rich and diversified experience of female and male members of the initiative and a whole network of friends from the area and from Poland. One of its main pillars is the educational and developmental activity that is realized through organizing many different workshops, meetings, lectures, and engaging in the search and support of alternative forms of education, and the exchange of knowledge and practices.