Bolesławiec residents try their hand at various fields of art at BOK-MCC. The studios of the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre–International Ceramics Centre are unique places where people can discover their passions, learn and have fun.
The studios’ advantage is their instructor-artists. Under their guidance, children create excellent works and win prizes in nationwide competitions. Exhibitions are organised for artists, where they present their work.
The centre’s diverse and rich programme supports the development of culture and nurtures the artistic passions of residents of the city and county. The centre offers excellent exhibitions, good theatre productions, performances by outstanding stage artists and excellent programmes for the youngest audiences.
Ceramics plein-air workshops organised by BOK-MCC
In 2013, for the first time, the post-workshop exhibition was presented during the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival in August (previously, exhibitions were organised at the end of the year, in December). The works were displayed in a spherical tent in the Market Square. It was the idea of Ewa Lijewska-Małachowska, director of BOK-MCC, who wanted to present the works to as wide an audience as possible. After the Ceramics Festival, the exhibition could be viewed at BOK-MCC’s Długa Gallery. More than 1,000 people visited it.
Sixteen artists from Mexico, the USA, Austria, France, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy, Spain and Poland took part in the 49th International Ceramics and Sculpture Plein-Air Workshop. This year’s workshop commissioner was ceramic artist Mateusz Grobelny, and the artistic consultant was Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter.
Exhibitions at BOK-MCC
A number of exhibitions were held in BOK-MCC’s galleries, featuring Bolesławiec residents. At the beginning of the year, two major photography exhibitions were held: “Through an Objective Eye” by the Bolesławiec Photographic Society and the annual exhibition of photographs by members of the Bolesławiec Camera Photographic Association. During the “Time of Colour” exhibition, students of the University of the Third Age presented their work. Exhibitions of works by ceramic artists and BOK-MCC studio instructors Mateusz Grobelny and Edyta Orlińska were also held. Joanna Bruździńska made her successful exhibition debut; she began working with clay at Mateusz Grobelny’s independent studio.
In April, the BOK-MCC studios presented their work. The well-received musical “Romek and Julka from Bolesławiec” was prepared. The centre’s dance and music studios performed during the show. The gallery hosted the “4P” exhibition, presenting works created during classes in four art studios: two ceramics and sculpture studios, the glass and stained-glass studio, and the art studio. Both events attracted large audiences. More than 400 viewers watched the musical, while 700 people visited the exhibition.
Free art classes
Twenty-six studios and associations operate at the centre on a permanent basis. Nearly 1,000 people take part in the organised classes. Almost 300 people attend the five dance studios. The seven music studios have 160 participants, and the five art studios have 250. Fifteen people meet in the film studio. This year, participants in BOK-MCC studio classes took part in more than one hundred different events and activities. Two new studios were established: artistic textiles (run by Teresa Olszewska-Bancewicz) and guitar, run by Mirosław Kuc.
Awards for BOK-MCC studios
Class participants take part in international, nationwide and regional competitions. Their work is noticed and awarded.
Children from the Academy of Art studio run by Stanisława Wojda-Pytlińska received awards in the provincial art competition “The Invisible World”, organised by the District Museum in Toruń as part of Heritage Days; in the Nationwide Painting Competition “Dream Journeys: Mexico”; and in the 20th Provincial Art Competition “The Earth Is One”.
Participants in the ceramics and sculpture studio run by Edyta Orlińska received awards in the Provincial Art Competition “The Invisible World”, the 3rd Nationwide Art Competition “There Are Never Too Many Pots in a Household” and the 14th edition of the nationwide Ceramiony Competition.
Young artists at the glass and stained-glass studio run by Magdalena Konieczna received distinctions in the Nationwide Biennale of Children’s and Young People’s Visual Arts “My Passions and Fascinations” in Gorzów Wielkopolski and in the 12th Provincial Biennale of Graphics, Drawing and Miniature “Long Live the Line” in Wrocław.
The Canon and Canonki hip-hop dance groups, led by instructor Katarzyna Tomczyk-Jakubowska, took part in and won awards at two editions of the Battle of Dance tournament in Wrocław and at the 14th Nationwide STONOGA Dance Groups Tournament 2013 in Chojnów.
A meeting place for Bolesławiec associations and clubs
BOK-MCC is also a meeting place for six associations and clubs bringing together more than 270 people: the Pensioners’ and Retirees’ Circle, the Association of Re-emigrants from Bosnia, Their Descendants and Friends, the “Tango Bolesławiec” Association and “Cafe Tango”, the “Carpe Diem” Teachers’ Club, and the University of the Third Age.
Members of the associations can organise meetings, club events, lectures and exhibitions of their own work free of charge in BOK-MCC’s rooms.
Winter and summer holidays with BOK-MCC
Every year, BOK-MCC prepares an attractive holiday programme for children and young people. Free workshops are accompanied by film screenings at Forum cinema. During the 2013 winter holidays, 15 different activities were held, ranging from art and dance classes and film workshops to workshops in the music studio; 350 people took part in them in total.
The most interesting activities were those focused on fashion&design, teaching participants how to use seemingly useless materials to design original fashionable accessories and make school items. More than 2,300 viewers took advantage of Forum cinema’s holiday programme. The summer programme consisted of eight workshops: art, singing, dancing and drumming.
Concerts and performances on the Forum stage
More than 6,000 viewers attended events held as part of Cultural Thursdays in 2013. There were 16 performances, concerts and cabaret shows. Stars of the Polish and international music scene performed, including Ray Wilson, one of the world’s best rock vocalists; Kuba Badach with the concert “Tribute to Andrzej Zaucha”; and Janusz Radek, who has a loyal group of female fans in Bolesławiec. Forum also hosted English musician Gordon Haskell, known for the all-time hit “How Wonderful You Are”.
For the youngest audiences, the excellent performance “The Enchanted Locomotive” by the Wrocław Theatre for Children was staged twice. It was seen by 800 young viewers accompanied by their carers.
BOK-MCC cooperates with the Bielsko-Biała Animated Film Studio
An interesting offering for young viewers was the outdoor exhibition “65 Years of Polish Animation”, organised in spring and presenting a brief history of Polish animated film. The exhibition was accompanied by a screening of the best Polish animated films. The screenings were attended by 716 viewers.
In November, to mark Bolek and Lolek’s 50th birthday, the Polish Young Audience Cinema showcase was held, featuring five free film screenings. Viewers watched several dozen short films. There were also art workshops, competitions and a quiz about Polish animation. Nearly 1,700 people took part in the event.
Best discussion film club
Meetings of the Film Discussion Club are held every Monday at Forum cinema. In 2013, 49 titles were screened, and an average of 200 people bought passes each month. In addition, a screening of the silent film “The General” with live music was held, along with a meeting with Anna Wieczur-Bluszcz, screenwriter and director of the film “To Be Like Kazimierz Deyna”.
Let us recall that the previous year, dkfbok received the Polish Film Institute’s award for the best film discussion club in Poland in 2011. At the same time, Forum cinema received a nomination in the best cinema category.
(information: BOK-MCC)