As is tradition, in mid-May the Regional Cultural Centre in Jelenia Góra is organising the 16th Folk Meetings. Forty groups (bands, singing groups, youth groups and soloists) came to the theatre hall in Cieplice. The Folk Meetings are held under the patronage of:
-Jelenia Góra City Council,
-Provincial Union of Farmers, Farmers’ Circles and Agricultural Organisations in Jelenia Góra,
Provincial Agricultural Advisory Centre in Jelenia Góra,
Provincial Board of the Polish People’s Party in Jelenia Góra. All municipalities of the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship took part in the Folk Meetings. The largest delegation was sent by the Municipality of Świerzawa. The Municipality of Bolesławiec was represented by a singing group from Żeliszów together with a youth group, a singing group from Ocice, and a duo from Żeliszów (Olga Burdyna and Anna Gogulska).
In the opening speech, those gathered were informed that the Minister of Culture and Art had awarded the “Meritorious Cultural Activist” decorations to five women—the leaders of folk groups and, at the same time, the chairwomen of the Rural Housewives’ Circles at which these groups operate. Four women were honoured with Diplomas from the Minister of Culture and Art, including Olga Burdyna from Żeliszów.
The competition auditions lasted two days—18 and 19 May 1996. The jury, comprising Prof. Bogusław Linette, MA Mirosława Bobrowska, MA Anna Szałaśna and MA Henryk Dumin, awarded the following prizes:
1/ in the category of singing groups, six equal first prizes went to groups from Lubawka, Radostów, Ruszów, Sędziszowa, Zbylutów and Żarki Średnie.
2/ eight equal second prizes went to groups from Dobków, Henryków, Lubiechów, Mirsk, Ocice, Przejęsław, Żeliszów and Żarska Wieś.
3/ four equal third prizes went to groups from Chełmsko, Milików, Mroczkowie and Skorzenice.
4/ three distinctions were awarded to groups from Lasów, Nowy Kościół and Podgórki.
Many prizes and distinctions were awarded to individual performers. Groups were selected for the National Folk Meetings in Kazimierz nad Wisłą—the singing groups from Radostów and Ruszów, and the group from Sokołowiec.
The value of the competition lies in the growing participation of children and young people, who take over the traditions of their cultural heritage through the repertoire and performances of their parents and grandparents.