In the video recording we received from a reader, a young person can be seen tearing panels displaying artwork from the fence of the Youth Cultural Centre building while walking past it.
The act of vandalism took place during the night of 28–29 March, at around 5:00 a.m. A total of 16 panels installed on the side facing the road were destroyed.
We reported on the act of vandalism on Sunday, 29 March. At the time, Dariusz Uścinski, director of the Youth Cultural Centre, said that the matter had been reported to the police. He stressed that it was difficult to understand the perpetrators’ motivation, as they had to make an effort to tear out and destroy work created by children.
The gallery was created to mark the institution’s 70th anniversary, and an exchange of the exhibition was planned for the near future. The panels themselves were expensive because they were intended to serve for a long time and be used repeatedly. Initial losses were estimated at approximately PLN 6,000.
The “Gallery on the Fence” initiative was launched in autumn 2024 by the Youth Cultural Centre in Bolesławiec. The institution’s fence displayed work by participants in art classes led by Katarzyna Sas and Joanna Mysłek-Michowska.
The young artists’ work was a form of recognition for them and, at the same time, formed part of the cityscape. The colourful, varied pieces enlivened the street and encouraged residents to engage with art available in public space.