European Congress
on Renewal and Rural Development

Cultural heritage is an important part of the debate on the future of rural areas. Cultural roots are crucial not only for preserving the identity of local communities but can also be part of an active socio-cultural life and entrepreneurship. That is why the European Congress on Renewal and Rural Development will include discussions on the power of folk culture and many presentations of its artists, which will be organized by the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage (NIKiDW).

You will be able to take part in shows and workshops by the following artists at the NIKiDW stand during the Congress.

Artists

• Jerzy Sowijak – a sculptor from Bukówiec Górny. He began creating in the 1970s and his entire work is strongly rooted in the atmosphere of his hometown – Bukówiec Górny, located in the south-east of Greater Poland voivodship. He is inspired by folklore and the history of the village. For several years, monumental sculptures have been displayed on the streets and squares of villages in Włoszakowice commune – monuments commemorating local historical figures, heroes and important personalities.

Activity: presentation of works, workshops for those interested.

• Tadeusz Pięta – wickerwork, one of the oldest crafts practiced by man, entered on the National List of Intangible Heritage. The wicker-worker has been creating and popularising this skill for years to save it from oblivion. His works have been presented and awarded many times in Poland and abroad – including in Italy, Canada and Spain. He also took part in the World Festival in Homer, Alaska.

Activity: presentation of works, workshops for those interested.

• Grzegorz Ciećka – Płazów woodcut – a very characteristic and unique folk woodcut, which is distinguished from professional woodcut by the use of only the simplest tools: a knife, a flat chisel, a boat-shaped chisel. The creator has been popularizing this field for years. He was a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage. He is currently a scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for 2025. He is not only a woodcut artist, but also a regionalist and collector. He would like to create a memorial room dedicated to this skill.

Activity: woodcut demonstrations, presentation of works and tools.

• Jadwiga Śliwa - Bobowa bobbin lace, included on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, popular since the beginning of the 19th century. The most common motifs are those taken from nature: snails, peacock feathers, chrysanthemum, lilies, duck paws, tulips, sunflower, mushrooms, dandelions, gypsy road. The creator has been involved in lace since she was 14. She is a member of the Association of Folk Artists. Her works could be seen at exhibitions in Poland and abroad, including: at the XIII Biennale Internazionale del Merletto in Sansepolcro in Italy, in Antwerp, in Brussels and also in Osaka in Japan. She was a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage. In 2021 she received the honorary title of Master of Artistic Crafts by profession - Embroiderer Lacemaker.

Activity: presentation of works, workshops for those willing

• Magdalena Bochenek - painting of Zalipie and Powiśle Dąbrowskie - a field entered on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, best known for painted, colourful cottages in the village of Zalipie. The artist comes from a family that has been involved in this field for years. She was a laureate of the "Malowana Chata" competition and a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage.

Activity: presentation of works, workshops for those willing

• Michał Kowalik - ritual art from the Lublin region entered on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The artist is a graduate of cultural studies, a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Humanities and Art of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. He is a member of the Association of Folk Artists. He creates, among others, spiders from straw, paper and tissue paper, wafer worlds, Easter eggs. He is a master of Krzczonów embroidery. He was a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage.

Activity - presentation of works, workshops for those interested

• Sabina Karwat - Opole cross-stitching included on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019. The creator began her adventure with cross-stitching at the age of 10 and since then has been continuously cultivating the regional traditions of the Opole region. Her Easter eggs could be seen at exhibitions in Poland and abroad, including: in the Museum of the Easter Egg in Kolomyia, Ukraine, or at the Exhibition of Folk Artists and Artistic Crafts of the Polish-Czech border in Prudnik. She also took part in the promotion of the Opole Voivodeship in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. As a local patriot, she designed and coordinated the production of a 2.5-meter model of a kroszonka (decorated Easter egg), which was placed in front of the Łubnia Cultural Centre. She was a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage.

Activity: presentation of works, workshops for those interested

• Beata Syzdół - practices folk weaving, maintaining the tradition of Bodzentyn weaving. She started weaving in 2015 on over a hundred-year-old looms using the knowledge and skills of older weavers in her village. Her passion for this field of creativity prompted Beata Syzdół to establish the Świętokrzyskie Weavers Association in 2018. The artist received the 3rd Prize in the "Świętokrzyska Folk Art" competition organized by the Voivodeship House of Culture in 2022. She has collections of kilims, bedspreads, table runners, canvases, tablecloths from the weaving mill in Bodzentyn. She was a scholarship holder of the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage.

Activity: presentation of works, show

The National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage also invited musicians from various regions of Poland to participate in the Congress. The following will perform at the Congress:

Bands:

Romuald Jędraszak Band - Greater Poland voivodship

Winner of the Oskar Kolberg Award with impressive achievements under his belt. Bagpipe music became his passion and life's calling. He learned the playing technique and melody by ear from older generation bagpipers. Jędraszak is one of the last masters using the traditional method of direct "master-student" transmission, without reading music.

Activity: Romuald Jędraszak and his students will perform in the plenary hall and will give a concert on Wielkopolska Day - 08.05.2025 – Thursday

The Song and Dance Ensemble "Łany" named in honour of Wiesław Kaszubkiewicz – Greater Poland voivodship

A band of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. "Łany" is a showcase of the city of Poznań, and even the entire country, and is a class act in Polish venues. It has also made a mark abroad, taking part in numerous festivals.

Activity: Concert on Wielkopolska Day – 08.05.2025 - Thursday

• Harnaś Highland Band - Lower Silesia voivodship

The musicians sing in the highland dialect and play on string instruments modified to the highland style (and by native Highlanders), faithfully reflecting the character and sound of the highland tradition. Their repertoire includes primarily songs from Podhale, but you can also hear the tunes of Sącz and Żywiec.

Activity: Concert on Europe Day - 09.05.2025 - Friday

Wasilewski Family Band - Warmia-Masuria voivodship

In the 1970s and 1980s, the band was formed by two families relocated as part of "Operation Vistula" forced resettlement from Bukowiec in the Bieszczady Mountains to Bobrownik near Lidzbark Warmiński. After many years, this unique musical legacy is returning and resounding anew thanks to the initiative of the Wasilewski family members.

Activity: Concert on Europe Day - 09.05.2025 - Friday

Roman Wojciechowski Band - Łódź voivodship

Roman Wojciechowski Band is considered one of the best and authentic musical bands not only in the Łódź Province, but also in the entire country. It has played with the same line-up since 2002, performing traditional music of the Opoczno region and of the Rawa-Opoczno border.

Activity: Concert on Polish Day – 10.05.2025 - Saturday

Dziki Sad Band – Masovian voivodship

The band is based on the traditional repertoire of Puszcza Zielona, ​​drawing source material from archival recordings and materials collected by itself. The band members travel around Kurpie villages and learn directly from singers and musicians - they record in crudo songs from oral transmission and music in its original sound.

Activity: Concert on Polish Day - 10.05.2025 - Saturday

In addition, the Congress will feature presentations of folk costumes (Biskupiński, Bamberg, Kurpie costumes) and poster exhibitions on folk culture.