The Most Important Cultural Events of 2011

Last year, residents of Bolesławiec could choose from many interesting cultural offerings. There were excellent films at the Film Discussion Club, great concerts, ballet and diverse art exhibitions. Here is our selection of the most important events of 2011.

Gloria Artis for Bronisław Wolanin

The “Meritorious for Polish Culture Gloria Artis” Medal, awarded to Bronisław Wolanin by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, is a particularly prestigious distinction honoring outstanding contributions to culture. It ranks higher than the honorary badge Meritorious for Polish Culture.

“The Nutcracker” and the Russian National Ballet on the Forum stage

The production of “The Nutcracker,” choreographed by Sergei Radchenko, was an event of this year’s cultural season in Bolesławiec. It was the second Russian ballet production staged in Bolesławiec. In 2010, residents of Bolesławiec could watch “Swan Lake.”

A concert by Henning Kraggerud and Wratislavia Cantans in the Baroque interior of the Marian Sanctuary

A concert by the Festival Orchestra of the International Wratislavia Cantans Festival was held at the Sanctuary. The star of the concert was violinist Henning Kraggerud. The concert was sponsored by the Municipal Office.

Radek’s concert at Forum

Janusz Radek performed the concert “Somewhere-in-between,” promoting his new album. Last year’s concerts at Forum by Michał Bajor, young jazz musicians with the program “Kaczmarski in Jazz,” and Grupa Mocarta were also major events.

Blues over the Bóbr and a live concert by “Pilichowski Band”

The concert was combined with a recording session for a DVD. The project concluded the concert tour promoting the album “Noise Live – concert at Trójka.”

Exhibitions at two BOK-MCC galleries

Interesting, thematic exhibitions at the galleries of the Bolesławiec Cultural Center–International Ceramics Center. The most important included a presentation of works by Kazimierz Kalkowski, Bolesławiec resident Marek Zyga, and two female designers: Katarzyna Hałas with the exhibition “CUDinNOŚCI” and Karina Marusińska with the exhibition “Seriously?”

Also worth highlighting are the outdoor film-themed exhibitions organized by BOK-MCC: “Actresses of Polish Cinema” and “Everything for Sale,” an exhibition presenting posters created abroad for Andrzej Wajda’s films.

Polish and international awards for authors from Bolesławiec

Jacek Pałka’s blog won the 2010 Best Blog of the Year poll in the absurd and offbeat category, while Katarzyna Pranić, an MDK teacher, won second prize in the Astrid Lindgren competition and published her debut novel “Ela-Sanela” in 2011.

Students of Stanisława Wojda-Pytlińska from the BOK-MC art studio were winners in prestigious international competitions. Joasia Ośko received an honorable mention at the International Art Competition in Japan. Among the honored artists, Joasia was the only person from Poland.

DKF with a February program of film classics and the film “Pina”

In 2011, another audience record was set at Forum cinema, with attendance reaching 101,656 viewers. In February, as part of the Film Discussion Club, audiences could watch “Citizen Kane,” “Amadeus,” “Tokyo Story” and “Death in Venice.”

Forum cinema screened a film that had drawn queues of moviegoers in Berlin and Wrocław during the two most important festivals. “Pina” is a full-length dance film made in 3D, featuring the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company and devoted to the fascinating and unique work of the outstanding choreographer who died in the summer of 2009. The work was Wim Wenders’ tribute to Pina Bausch.

Se-ma-for Film Festival

At the invitation of BOK-MCC, the “Se-ma-for Film Festival” came to Bolesławiec. Animation enthusiasts could enjoy screenings, a Film City Game, an exhibition of stills and photographs from the set of the puppet series “Zajączek Parauszek,” and animation workshops, during which the participants created a film.

Era New Horizons film education for schools

This was an exceptional BOK-MCC offering for students. For ten years, it has featured lectures and screenings of films selected by a team of experts—film scholars, psychologists and educators—and more than 50,000 primary, middle and secondary school students in Lower Silesia use it.

The Letters Competition and a distinction for Bolesławiec resident Elżbieta Erban

The slogan of last year’s competition was “Thank you... I’m sorry.” The Szczecin branch of the Polish Writers’ Association served as patron of the event.

The jury recognized Elżbieta Erban’s letter from Bolesławiec as a model example of epistolary art because it met all its criteria: beautiful, correct Polish; fluent expression; a wide range of subjects; and legible handwriting. Therefore, the jurors unanimously awarded the author the Prize of the President of the Polish Writers’ Association.

The competition is organized by GOKiS in Bolesławiec, branch in Kruszyn. The media patron of the event is the Istotne.pl portal.

Music concerts during City Days and the Ceramics Festival

A concert as part of the South Slavic Culture Festival by Boban and Marko Marković Orchestra, the Blues Night in Bolesławiec concert, Budka Suflera, Maleo Reggae Rockers, T Love and Ania Dąbrowska.

Double invitations to the February DKF will go to

and Mariola Pokładek (information: Grażyna Hanaf)