DISCOVER POZNAŃ CULTURALLY

Modern cities invest in a culture that creates the identity of their community. In Poznań, cultural initiatives are widespread, and the City’s goal is to make them available for every inhabitant. It is worth noticing that these activities are supported by domestic and foreign investors.

For many years, Poznań has been known for skilful combining of the business world and art. The initiator of the activities in this direction was Grażyna Kulczyk, who arranged the space for modern art at Stary Browar. VOX, adapted the passageway between the Bałtyk office building and the Sheraton hotel into an installation of Alicja Biała, which is aimed at raising awareness of the negative role of human in the natural environment Vastint, the owner of Stara Rzeźnia, changed it... into the scene of Teatr Polski [the Polish Theatre] and is also currently engaged in the art community of Poznań.

Culture and its availability is extremely important for the current authorities of the City of Poznań. Therefore, numerous activities are conducted in order to let cultural events take place in various parts of the city. #NaFalach summer festival may be an example. Concerts are planned at the Malta and Strzeszyńskie lakes. In the very centre of the City, in the courtyard of the City Hall, theatrical performances take place as part of the #NaWolnym project.

STARA RZEŹNIA [OLD SLAUGHTERHOUSE]

When we found out last that Vastint invested in the historical area of 100-year-old Stara Rzeźnia, we did not expect that before the beginning of revitalization, we would enjoy an intellectual feast. The area of Stara Rzeźnia, which is almost 5.5 hectares, is located in the northern part of the centre of Poznań within Garbary, Grochowe Łąki and Północna streets. The developer wants to create a residential, office and service complex in this area, which will be complemented by a modern, publicly accessible space. The area of future development is about 70,000 sq m. Vastint emphasizes that during revitalization this area will preserve its post-industrial character.

With regard to the investor’s broad plans, the premiere of “Hamlet” directed by Maja Kleczewska was held at the beginning of June at Stara Rzeźnia. The Polish-Ukrainian “Hamlet” is the biggest event of this season at Teatr Polski in Poznań. The framework of the art allows the audience to move freely around Stara Rzeźnia. Viewers have wireless headphones at their disposal to change the sound channel. Thanks to this, everyone can experience “Hamlet” in an individual way. The atmosphere of the spectacle is created primarily with the incredible architecture of the main hall, which in the scenery of Zbigniew Libera has turned into an oriental, mysterious castle.

MALTA FESTIVAL POZNAŃ

In the summer calendar of Poznań cultural events, Malta Festival Poznań has a permanent place. A festival that enjoys recognition throughout Poland and beyond. This year it takes place under the direction of Nástio Mosquito – an interdisciplinary artist, curator of the international Idiom “Armia jednostki / Army of the Individual”. This year’s Malta Festival edition includes 750 artists from 15 countries around the world and 300 events in 50 places in Poznań. During the time of the festival, Plac Wolności transforms into a temporary cultural centre open to the public, operating from morning to night during the festival. It will happen again this year. In the centre of Poznań, there will be a stage, a festival club, a tent with activities for children, space for food trucks and large pillows and hammocks, which create a place for rest and meeting new people. The festival town will wake up early in the morning during yoga, tai chi or common breakfast, and fall asleep late at night by ending the day with concerts and silent disco.

Before the official opening of the festival, the premiere of a joint project of rapper donGURALesko and the Malta Foundation “Ani Słowo bez nas!” took place. The musician has rewritten the book of historian Timothy Snyder “On tyranny: Twenty lessons from the twentieth century” into the language of rap. The effect was presented during a concert at Plac Wolności.

#NAWOLNYM

This summer, Wolny Dziedziniec (Courtyard) of the Poznań City Hall will once again become a place for meetings with culture. During the summer, residents and visitors will be able to take part in concerts, outdoor cinema shows and performances of the most popular Polish theatres.

Earlier, before the changes, the courtyard of the main building of the Poznań City Hall was a parking lot. By the decision of Mayor Jacek Jaśkowiak, the cars of officials and councillors were removed from this space. Currently, Wolny Dziediniec is for the needs of residents and tourists. All seats are mobile and the pots can be moved with a forklift. The detailed project has resulted in the creation of a multifunctional space for everyday use, which can serve concerts, events and other projects – emphasizes Piotr Libicki, Mayor’s Proxy for City Aesthetic of the City of Poznań.

This year, on the #NaWolnym stage, Jan Peszek, Andrzej Seweryn with the monodrama “Szekspir Forever!” [Shakespeare Forever!], Krystyna Janda, who will play the role of a great opera diva in the play “Maria Callas. Master Class”. Mikromusic, Clock Machine and Stays will perform. Movie fans will be able to watch 8 films, including “The Florida Project”, “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote”, “Youth” or “Room”.

#NAFALACH

The #NaWolnym project is complemented by a series of free outdoor concerts #NaFalach, a new version of Maltańska Scena Muzyczna [Malta Music Scene], which enjoyed great popularity among residents, who are spending the summer in the city. This year, concerts will be held during all summer in two locations: on Malta and Strzeszyńskie Lake. We already know almost all performers who will appear in this year’s edition of #NaFalach. Mrozu, Happysad, Natalia Przybysz, Daria Zawiałow, Coma, Luxtorpeda, Kamil Bednarek, Rosalie and Rebecca will play for Poznań residents and visitors. The series of concerts will begin on 29th of June with the concert of Natalia Nykiel on the beach of Strzeszyńskie Lake. The concerts will last until the end of the summer.

OLD / NEW CULTURAL FACILITIES

Teatr Muzyczny in Poznań (The Musical Theater in Poznań) is currently one of the most dynamically developing cultural institutions in Poland. Every year, it hosts over 110,000 viewers with only 400 seats in the audience. Tickets for shows are sold out very quickly. Therefore, the City decided to build a new seat for Teatr Muzyczny. It will allow, after more than 60 years of theatre’s functioning on a temporary stage, for displaying technologically advanced performances and for more than twice as large audiences. We will be able to watch performances in a new place from 2023.

After a year break, on 8th of June, the oldest one cinema in Poznań – Kino Muza returned to Święty Marcin street 30. Now, viewers will be able to watch movies not in one, but in three rooms. There is also a terrace, which can function as another screening place after sunset. After renovation, it is a completely new cinema in terms of technical equipment and decor, yet still with the same atmosphere, which is beloved by all Poznań residents.

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