In Lower Silesia, despite its heritage being among the richest in the country, there are currently very few practical, attractive and widely available regional products popularized as souvenirs. In addition, during the implementation of the Old Crafts Trail in Lower Silesia and Upper Lusatia project, the Lower Silesian Tourist Organization identified a real threat to some fields of disappearing crafts, resulting from a lack of successors in certain branches. The situation in Bolesławiec, Zgorzelec, Lwówek and Lubań counties is no different from that in the rest of the province.

Regional Production as a New Source of Income

Thanks to a project by the Lower Silesian Tourist Organization, co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund (Human Capital Operational Programme), 20 adults—farmers insured with KRUS or members of their families living in Bolesławiec, Zgorzelec, Lwówek and Lubań counties—will be able to take part in the Souvenir Maker Course. The project aims to enable participants, through appropriate knowledge and skills, to earn an income by producing products typical of their region.

The programme of the Souvenir Maker Course, beginning in September 2009, comprises 256 hours and will include practical classes (souvenir production techniques, artistic techniques for decorating objects, handicrafts made from clay, artistic and functional products made from various materials, silk painting and artistic tailoring) as well as theoretical preparation (psychological training, the basics of marketing, the use of computers and the Internet at work, principles of running a non-agricultural business in the tourism services sector, and knowledge of the tourism market).

An additional advantage of the project is 80 hours of individual training in studios and workshops for each course participant. There, participants will work with an artist and create their own work or piece, which will be presented at an exhibition organized in Wrocław at the end of the course. The training will end in April of the following year and will take place over several days each month.

The participants will be taught by local artists, whose achievements alone provide encouragement to enter this field. Participants will work under the supervision of, among others: Dariusz Miliński (a painter, poet and actor running an “artistic enterprise” in Pławna near Lwówek), Robert Zawadzki (a mineral expert, artist, designer and maker of jewellery from semiprecious stones, running Agatowa Kamieniczka in Lwówek Śląski), Urszula Surowiec (a designer and maker of unique artistic objects from clay using traditional techniques, running a studio in Dobków), Joanna Polańska (working with unique medieval clothing made from natural fabrics and silk painting, and running the Studio Stroju Unikatowego in Przecznica), Czesław Matyjewicz (a visual artist, author of numerous exhibitions and creator of original works and functional art objects, running a studio in Bolesławiec), as well as many other experienced lecturers.

Registration for the Souvenir Maker Course Has Begun

Information about the course is available from the Project Office at telephone number 071 348 14 26 (Wrocław, 4 Rzeźbiarska Street). The websites are already online (for Bolesławiec and Zgorzelec counties: www.pamiatkarz.info; for Lwówek and Lubań counties: www.pamiatkarz.net).

You can also attend one of eight information meetings organized in Bolesławiec at Piwnica Paryska, 34 Komuny Paryskiej Street (10 August – 12:00, 11 August – 18:00, 17 August – 9:00, 18 August – 15:00), or in Lwówek Śląski in the conference room of the Municipal and City Office, 25 A Wojska Polskiego Street (10 August – 9:00, 11 August – 15:00, 17 August – 12:00, 18 August – 18:00).

Detailed information
Project Office
Wrocław, 4 Rzeźbiarska Street
tel. 71 348 14 26

Websites:

  • www.pamiatkarz.info
    Bolesławiec and Zgorzelec counties
  • www.pamiatkarz.net
    Lwówek and Lubań counties

(commissioned information)