Work on creating the application had been underway since April 2022. More than a year ago, representatives of ceramic companies operating in Bolesławiec County, local government authorities headed by Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman, the Association of Ceramic Municipalities of the Republic of Poland, the Ceramic Brotherhood and municipal cultural institutions signed a declaration of cooperation concerning the inclusion of Bolesławiec ceramics on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The director of the Museum of Ceramics in Bolesławiec welcomed the custodians and guests.
“I am speaking only because you chose the Museum of Ceramics as the coordinator of the activities related to the application,” said the director Anna Bober-Tubaj at the meeting. “Once again, I thank all the owners of the ceramic factories for agreeing to support us in these activities. The 20-page application is only a fraction of what the custodians prepared. In addition to preparing to complete the application and organizing the ceramics festival, ceramic artists also took part over the past year in prestigious exhibitions and presentations of Bolesławiec stoneware in Faenza (Italy), Vienna and Porsgrunn (Norway). We still have the opening of the new Museum of Ceramics headquarters in the restored Pückler Palace ahead of us. We will ask you for your cooperation and the opportunity to present our wonderful ceramics.
The mayor, who hosted the meeting, emphasized the importance of the Bolesławiec ceramics brand.
“We are reflecting on the phenomenon of Bolesławiec ceramics,” said Mayor Piotr Roman. “In Wałbrzych and Ćmielów, efforts to restore the former glory of ceramic-producing factories have not succeeded, while Bolesławiec is becoming increasingly well known around the world precisely thanks to its ceramic products. Applause for the Museum of Ceramics. The phenomenon lies in joint action and cooperation in building the city’s brand and showcasing ceramics in exclusive places around the world. The Europe Prize awarded to the city this year is one such success of joint action. Another Ceramics Festival lies ahead of us, and we expect around 200,000 tourists. We hope that inclusion on the list will open the doors to the world wider for us and protect ceramics from copying,” the mayor added.
The custodians signing the application in the Council Chamber included representatives of ceramic factories, local governments, cultural institutions, schools and associations, including the boleslawianie.eu association, which has organized Glina Show in Bolesławiec during the Ceramics Festival since 2018 and Gliniada since this year.