Would a father who suffers because “his child” was taken away be able to forget about the child for four years simply because he was not given enough money for the “offspring” to want to care for it?
Father Nowak, as he claims, brought “his child,” Gliniada, into being, but since 2014, when he first held it without Stowarzyszenie Via Sudetica, he has stopped organizing the event in his hometown. From 2015 to 2017, Nowak deprived Bolesławiec of Gliniada. He also refused to organize the event in 2018, even though he traveled outside Bolesławiec for commercial invitations.
Very Costly “Paternal” Care
How much did Dad want from the city for taking care of “his child”? Documents show that it was 45,000 złoty as early as 2014. He did not lower this price in subsequent years, despite being offered 20,000 złoty from the city budget. Glina Show, organized by stowarzyszenie boleslawienia.eu and istotne.pl in 2018, received a 15,000-złoty city subsidy.
Nowak mocked Glina Show and did everything he could to discredit the event, assisted by people involved in the 2018 election for mayor of Bolesławiec: Cezariusz Rudyk of Platforma Obywatelska, Maciej Małkowski of Impuls Miasta, and Wiesław Ogrodnik of Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (although he had previously criticized Nowak for harming the city).
Despite the damage caused by the group associated with Nowak, more than a hundred people came to paint themselves with clay slip, and more than 200 people had previously taken part in fire-walking workshops. The event was successful and well received. Without interruption—even during the pandemic—Glina Show has now continued for six years and supports efforts to secure a prestigious inscription of Bolesławiec ceramics on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Mr. Nowak, who runs a restaurant and hotel in Bolesławiec, benefits from these activities because Glina Show, held as part of the Ceramics Festival, attracts tourists. Despite this, he continues to obstruct the event and remains intent on discrediting the event held in Bolesławiec. He himself can paint himself with clay slip and perform outside the city for a fee, as long as Bolesławiec does not have Gliniada, which originated here and was organized for years by the women and men of Bolesławiec. Such is the “father’s” idea.
Nine years ago, for taking care of “his child,” Dad Nowak wanted 45,000 złoty. How much would he demand from the city now, in a year of inflation?