Central and Eastern Europe Meeting by Krytyka Polityczna

www.krytykapolityczna.pl www.politicalcritique.org 1

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MEETING / KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA & FRIENDS, or: WTF? ...... 3-4 SCHEDULE, or: when and what? ................................................................... 5-6 POLITICAL CRITIQUE IN 2014, or: look how fab we are! ................................ 7-27 FRIENDS / LIST OF ORGANISATIONS, or: who is everybody? ............................... 28-39 LIST OF PARTICIPANS, or: find yourself! ......................................................... 40-43 POLITICAL CRITIQUE CULTURAL CENTRE “ON THE BORDER” IN CIESZYN, or: about the place ... 44-49 NOTEBOOK, or: whatever you want .............................................................. 50-56

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MEETING KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA & FRIENDS Meetings in Cieszyn every August have been for the circles of Krytyka Polityczna (Political Critique) a holiday, a feast, a point for summing the year’s activities, and discussing plans for the future. For two years now, they have been a place of meeting friends. We have invited to Cieszyn our fellow organisations so as to get to know one another, learn something from one another, and also give one another a high five, and together talk about changing the world for the better, for we know this is something we all share keen interest in. Krytyka Polityczna is a network of institutions and activists. We work for the change of the world into a fairer place. To people in Warsaw, we are an editing and publishing hub at Foksal Street, to those keeping trace of the political debate in Poland we are its commentators on TV and radio as well as journalists of the online daily Dziennik Opinii, to various readerships we are a publishing house, to the residents of Cieszyn or Gdańsk we are social and cultural centres, to the residents of Łódź we are the organisers of the commemoration of the Revolution of 1905, in Gniezno we are known as fans of the socially engaged cinema. To the academia we are the hosts of seminars, lectures and conferences organised by the Institute for Advanced Study; among NGOs we are one of the larger, in Ukraine our name is Політична Критика, in Russia we publish the journal Политическая критика, and in international networking we are a little bit of everything: activists, journalists, academics, artists – and we have learnt that it takes a while to explain to others how this complex animal of Krytyka Polityczna works. To one another, to many organisations and circles in Poland and abroad, we are simply friends.

As Krytyka Polityczna we have been active since 2002. We started by publishing a quarterly, soon to find a group of people organising themselves around the magazine. In a few years the time was ripe for going professional and establishing other institutions. It has always been relations between individuals that held us together. Our term for it is “the making of social glue.” How do we go about it? Through common action for the change of political discourse and installing leftist thinking into social debate. Each action to effect this goal means hours of work as a team: research, preparations, sometimes heated debates, and finally realisation. Those hours spent together are to us equally important as our shared ideas. The patron of our Association, Polish philosopher Stanisław Brzozowski wrote: “What is not biography - is nothing at all.” It is doing things together that is our biography. Krytyka Polityczna is a space where we bring together people, ideas and organisations. We are matchmakers to all sorts of people. We bring together academics and organisers, journalists and social activists, people fighting for minority rights and economists, artists from Częstochowa and social activists from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. All those people learn from one another, inspire, share their unique experiences. Sociologists and artists use different tools, but if they all sit down together to explain and demonstrate them, they may learn something that would not cross their minds if they remained shut, either group in its separate world. This sort of “matchmaking” makes a whole lot of people we meet get to know one another. That is why, among other things, we have invited all of you to Cieszyn. Krytyka Polityczna is a place where we have found friends. To release 40 books, to invite people to 400 events, to publish 1,000 stories in the online daily every year is a lot of work, but also a cartload of fun and joy, which we share. We are happy whenever we can share our joy with our fellow organisations. Many among us have grown on Krytyka Polityczna and today they co-form social movements and NGOs. We continue to watch our respective progresses and try to support one another. We cooperate, we inspire, we motivate to action.

27.08 Thursday

14.00 – 18.00 Sytuacja polityczna w Polsce a działania aktywistów z Krytyki Politycznej / Political situation in Poland and activist situation in Krytyka Polityczna – discussion (IN POLISH) / Moderators: Agnieszka Wiśniewska, Sławomir Sierakowski 18.00 – 19.00 obiad / dinner 19.00 – 20.00 Pokaz filmu „Ursus znaczy niedźwiedź” / “Ursus means bear” movie screening 20.00 Wyjście do Sikoraka / Informal meeting at Sikorak 10.00 – 11.00 śniadanie / breakfast 11.00 – 12.00 Otwarcie spotkania / Opening 12.00 – 15.00 Dyskusje w podgrupach / Group discussions *Nowi aktorzy polityczni w Europie / New political actors on European political stage / Moderators: Vitalie Sprinceana, Natalia Sawka

schedule

28.08 Friday

*Jak działać w warunkach niedemokratycznych / Fighting non-traditional authoritarian regimes / Moderators: Károly Füzessi, Przemysław Witkowski, Yulia Bardum *Twierdza Europa – imigranci, uchodźcy / Festung Europe – migrants, refugees / Moderators: Jakub Dymek, Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, Luca Cafagna, Dariia Rachok *Prawa reprodukcyjne kobiet w Europie Wschodniej / Reproductive rights in Eastern Europe / Moderators: Iza Desperak, Oksana Briukhovetska 15.00 – 16.00 lunch 16.00 – 20.00 Solidarność w Europie – wykład Michała Sutowskiego i dyskusja / Levels of solidarity in Europe – lecture by Michał Sutowski and discussion 20.00 Wyjście do Sikoraka / Informal meeting at Sikorak

29.08 Saturday

10.00 – 11.00 śniadanie / breakfast 11.00 – 15.00 Dyskusje w podgrupach / Group discussions *Dziennikarstwo: rola, cel, możliwości / Journalism: role, purpose, opportunities / Moderators: Tatsiana Artsimovich, Jakub Dymek, Jan Bělíček *Jak działać? Jak budować ruchy społeczne, koalicje, grupy nacisku? / Community building in practice / Moderators: Mikołaj Pancewicz, Hector Huerga, Maria Klaman *Prekariusze wszystkich krajów łączcie się / Precarians of all countries, unite! / Moderators: Igor Stokfiszewski, Claudia Bernardi 15.00 – 16.00 lunch 16.00 – 19.00 7 alternatywnych wycieczek po Cieszynie / 7 alternative city tours around Cieszyn 19.00 – 20.00 Dyskusja zamykająca / General assembly / Moderators: Agnieszka Wiśniewska, Sławomir Sierakowski 20.00 Wyjście do Sikoraka – dancing / Dancing at Sikorak

30.08 Sunday

10.00 – 11.00 śniadanie / breakfast 11.00 – 13.00 Wrap up and possible future cooperation / Moderators: Joanna Tokarz-Haertig, Agnieszka Wiśniewska 13.00 – 14.00 sprzątanie Świetlicy / cleaning up

POLITICAL CRITIQUE in 2014

Political Critique is a network of institutions and activists. We operate and take on various forms. For Warsaw residents we are the editorial team on Foksal Street, for those tracking public debate – we are the radio and tv-commentators and Opinion Daily journalists, for book readers – we are a publishing house, for Cieszyn residents – we are a Socio-Cultural Center, for Gdańsk residents – we are animators of socio-cultural life, for Łódź residents – we are the organizers the ‘Revolution of 1905’ anniversary celebrations, in Gniezno they know us as fans of “engaged cinema”, and in Opole – as curators. In the academic world – we host seminars, lectures and conferences organised by our Institute for Advanced Study, in the Polish NGO community – we are one of the largest organisations, in Ukraine – we are “Політична Критика”, and within international networks – we are a little bit of all the aforementioned things: activists, journalists, academics, artists – and we have got used to the fact that it usually takes us a lot of the time to explain how this complex organism called Political Critique works. Between us and for many organisations and groups across Poland and abroad – we are simply friends.

Political Critique in 2014 • •

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39 published books; 3 issues of the „Political Critique” magazine, including a Ukrainian publication; over 1100 new texts published on the Opinion Daily website DziennikOpinii.pl (commentaries, interviews, reviews, essays) with outreach of around 1 mln users a year; over 400 socio-cultural events organized by Political Critique’s Clubs (debates, workshops, exhibitions);

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17 seminars at the Institute for Advanced Study, a series of economic lectures and two conferences; development of our international cooperation – including opening a Cultural Center in Kiev and launching an international website PoliticalCritique.org.

But mere numbers do not, however, say much about our many activities. So what do we actually do?

Political Critique’s Publishing House, or: we publish books In the past year you could have met us at book fairs in Warsaw, Cracow, and Wroclaw, the Historical Book Fair, at events such as Literary Sopot, OFF Festival in Katowice, creative fairs #Towary in Łódź, and at Jan Kochanowski’s Name Day in Warsaw. We were also present at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt. Premieres of our books are accompanied by debates and meetings with authors. If you have missed any of them – you can listen to audio recordings at MixCloud.com/KrytykaPolityczna or watch video recordings at YouTube.com/user/KrytykaPolityczna. Our books have gained the recognition of many readers and critics. We have also received numerous awards: •

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17. Jan Długosz Award for prof. Grzegorz Niziołek for of Holocaust (Polski teatr Zagłady) (co-publisher: Zbigniew Raszewski Has also received the Polish Society for performances and other performing arts”.

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Two books published by us, Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang and Beyond Mechanical Markets: Asset Price Swings, Risk, and the Role of the State by Roman Frydman and Michael D. Goldberg, were nominated for the Economicus Award for best economic and business Polish translation.

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Adam Leszczynski, author of Leap into Modernity. Growth Policy in the Peripheral Countries 1943-1980 (Skok w nowoczesność. Polityka wzrostu w krajach peryferyjnych 1943-198o) received three best historical book of the year, Economicus Award for the best Polish economic and business book, and Jan Długosz Award 2014.

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Over-dreamt Revolution (Prześniona rewolucja) by prof. Andrzej (Szpakowska. Outsiderka) were Leder oraz included on the list of the 10 best books of 2014 by “Polityka”, one of the biggest Polish socio-political weekly magazines.

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Newsweek.pl mentioned Jetlag by Michał R. Wiśniewski as one of the best literary debuts of the past year, and “Newsweek” weekly put Over-dreamt Revolution by prof. Andrzej Leder on the list of the 10 most important books of the year.

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Dorota Jarecka’s published interview with Anda Rottenberg Fair Enough (Już trudno) was described by Culture.pl as one of the most important books on art.

Polish dailies, weeklies, monthlies, and literary blogs published over 200 reviews of books published by us in 2014.

Opinion Daily, or: we write, translate, and edit Opinion Daily we comment on the most interesting news from Poland and across the world. We write about culture and economy. Journalists permanently cooperating with us include: Maciej Gdula, Kinga Dunin, Cezary Michalski, Katarzyna Tubylewicz, Oleksij Radynski, and Barbara Nowacka. Apart from texts, we also publish photo essays and video materials. we made sure to allow them not only to act locally, but also to have their are impressive. Our journalistic-editorial team is regularly supported by Dawid Krawczyk from Wrocław, Ula Lukierska from Łódź, Michał Wszołek and Krzysztof Juruś from Cracow, Monika Pastuszko, Martyna Dominiak, Michał Gauza, Marcin Zaród, Elżbieta Rutkowska.

In the year of the European Parliament elections we prepared a separate section of our website called “European Elections / European Choices” (“Wybory Europy”). We published over 100 articles and reviews by the roots activists, commentators and columnists (including: Anne Applebaum, Edwin Bendyk, Jose Bove, Piotr Buras, Rebecca Harms, Jerzy Hausner, Danuta Hübner, Ska Keller, Gilles Kepel, Naomi Klein, Iwan Krastew, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Mark Leonard, Janusz Lewandowski, kaminer, Martin Schulz, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Radosław Sikorski, Marek Siwiec, Aleksander Smolar, Timothy Snyder, Joseph Stiglitz, and Jacek Żakowski). our texts abroad: Slawomir Sierakowski’s columns appeared monthly in the “New York Times International” and Czech biweekly “Advojka” along with A2larm.cz website regularly publish articles by Political Critique’s columnists.

Political Critique’s Clubs and Cultural Centers, or: we act locally Someone once asked what the biggest challenge for Political Critique is. We replied: communication. Transport from city to city. Every activity, prepared and carried out in a place to which you have to travel for hours switching trains few times on the way, a place where you have to spend at least two days, as there is no return connection on the same day, and where there are not as many institutions and not as wide an access to culture as in Warsaw – those are especially the places we love to be active. •

In Gdańsk we talked a lot about the environment and organised the Global Education Week and ŚwiEtycznie festival discussing sustainable Christmas, animal rights and growing consumerism.

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Łódź is the city of the revolution – every year we organize anniversary celebrations commemorating the Revolution of 1905; furthermore we organised several events, debates, and workshops, discussing contemporary employment and working conditions, cooperation with the elderly, and city activism.

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In Gniezno we organized an open-air exhibition, accompanied by a debate Ghosts of transformation – work; we collaborated with the of the presented movies with Stanisław Brzozowski Award.

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In Wrocław we covered medially the Romanian Roma litigation and co-organised a round table discussion with the participation of nongovernmental organisations, representatives of local authorities, and experts.

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In Cieszyn we worked with young people, organised concerts of new alternative music and the Residents’ Cultural Forum discussing cultural strategy for the city.

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In Opole we organized the exhibition What Cannot Be Seen, presenting socially engaged art with works of contemporary artists such as Joanna Wowrzeczka and Marta Frej.

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In Kiev we co-produced another exhibition: Lockout, organised in cooperation with and in the new premises of the Visual Culture Research Center.

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We organised Democracy 4.0 workshops in Warsaw, Łódź, Rzeszów, Lublin, and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.

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In Cracow we co-organised 3rd Secularism Days.

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We co-organised numerous screenings and readings of the play Golgotha Picnic as a solidarity gesture after the performance had many cities across Poland (i.e. in Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Jaworzno, Katowice, Cracow, Lublin, Łódź, Piła, Poznań, Szczecin, Wałbrzych, Warsaw, Wrocław).

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We are also very active in Warsaw. All throughout the year we run Critical University, providing a Polish audience (including English-

In June we organised a series of debates, events and workshops within the frame of the Jacek Kuroń Festival – presenting critical diagnoses of Polish socio-economical conditions and possible solutions to problems, which Jacek Kuron dealt with his entire life, especially in areas such as education, neighborhood, community, and cooperation. Also in June we implemented a large cultural project in Ursus (a postindustrial district of Warsaw), that included artistic and social events and a parade of old tractors.

Institute for Advanced Study – seminars, debates and conferences ary-June) and 7 in the winter one (October-February). Seminars are run by renowned Polish academics and experts, including: prof. Agata BielikRobson, prof. Ewa Łętowska, prof. Jerzy Hausner, prof. Andrzej Leder, Sasnal, Dr Weronika Chańska, Dr Maciej Gdula, Dr Andrzej Franaszek, Dr Jakub Dymek. Apart from the seminars, the Institute is regularly holding open economic lectures within the New Economy in the Times of Crisis cycle led by prof. Jerzy Osiatyński, inviting acclaimed international experts on economy. Leon Podkaminer. In April we organised the conference and Biographical Experience prof. Cathrine Delcroix, Dr Izabela Wagner, Dr Sylwia Urbańska, Dr Joanna Wawrzyniak, Dr Maciej Gdula, Dr Mikołaj Lewicki, Dr Przemysław Sadura.

In June we implemented the project Factory. Ursus 2014 (Zakłady. Ursus 2014), taking place on the premises of a former Ursus Factory producing at establishing a dialogue with the history and identity of the district, integrating its residents, and providing other Varsovians with a thorough knowledge of the past and present of the former Ursus Factory. the former Ursus Factory, tractor drivers visiting the Ursus Museum, An Acoustic Walk (walk across the area of the former Ursus Factory while listening to recorded stories told by the factory workers), Paweł Althamer’s Draftmen’s Congress (three-day-long collective painting in public space), Spoken Memoirs (installation enabling the recording and listening to memories of the Ursus Factory workers), Outdoor Cinema (premiere of the art-movie Ursus. A Movie Essay by Jaśmina Wójcik and historical short (collective commemorative photo of participants of the project, workers of the former Ursus Factory and residents of the Ursus district), and a Neighbourly Dinner (feast prepared by residents of Ursus district, accompanied by live music by the Warsaw band Poeci Jezior). In November the Institute organized the 2nd Conference entitled “Culture Culture and Development programme is aimed at creating maps of new cultural practices and characterising them of the analysis of case studies carried out under the supervision of prof. Jerzy Hausner. During the conference the results of this research were presented, focusing on 6 case studies: Autonomiczne Centrum Społeczne Cicha 4 (Lublin), Fundacja Cohabitat (Łódź), Koło Gospodyń Wiejskich (Lesznowola), Praska Biblioteka Sąsiedzka (Warszawa), Stowarzyszenie De-novo (Dynów), and Teatr Łaźnia Nowa (Kraków/Nowa Huta), along with the results and conclusions from Edwin Bendyk’s Fraktale project. practices focus on empowerment, communities, participation and social sustainability contributing to improving the quality of life, that is – to Kostera, prof. Jerzy Hausner, Edwin Bendyk.

International cooperation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; inspirations, exchange of experience and ideas We are part of the Eurozine network, creating a network of institutions and socio-cultural activists working for democracy, initiated by the European Cultural Foundation. We have worked with activists from Italy and Spain within the implementation of the Democracy 4.0 workshops. We have been operating in Ukraine for many years. International meetings are an inspiration for us, forcing us to look at the socio-political situation in Poland and in the region from the outside. Every summer we organise a general meeting of the Political Critique netfriends from abroad that it must become international. So we invited all the participants to Cieszyn: activists, citizen journalists, cultural animaattended by one hundred people from Political Critique who came from Poland, Ukraine, and from friendly organisations in Belarus, Croatia, Russia, Moldova, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Hungary. During the four-day meeting we discussed the identity of Eastern Europe, the situation in Ukraine and exchanged experiences gained in the city, gender, culture for democracy, strategies and actions of social and political movements. autumn, thanks to our combined forces, we opened the Political Critiqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cultural Centre and Visual Culture Research Centre. In just a few months tures by renowned visitors from around world and organises discussions and artistic presentations. We were very pleased to hear that the Visual

Culture Research Center has been awarded with the Princess Margriet Award. The award ceremony is going to take place in Brussels in March 2015. song – we launched the English-language version of our website: Political- prepared for foreign readers - providing comments on the situation in Poland and/or in the region. Additionally, the website includes photo essays, as well as audio- and video-recordings.

What else? We run the Narkopolityka.pl website. Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz made a Artists online (Artyści w sieci). We collaborated with more than 100 various institutions and organisations. We were regularly uploading content about our activities on social networks (58,000 Facebook fans and 54,500 Twitter followers). We are trying to change the world to one in which inequalities decrease and participatory budgets grow! ***

was established in 2005. Founded by the creators of the “Political Critique” magazine, it organises all activities of the milieu. The patron of the association, Stanisław Brzozowski (1878-1911), was a Polish philosopher, writer, literary and theatre critic and historian of ideas. He preached the need to involve creators in shaping social life. He inspired the biggest Polish intellectuals – Czesław Miłosz, Andrzej Walicki, Maria Janion, Leszek Kołakowski, Adam Michnik – and consequently, the next generations of engaged Polish intelligentsia.

FRIENDS/ LIST OF ORGANISATIONS 15M Barcelona International 15M was a grassroots movement that took to the squares of Spain in May 2011. Since then, the collective intelligence have been moving forward different alternatives to the socio-political scenario in Spain. Represented by: Hector Huerga 54°+ 54°+ (Public Institution ‘Penki, keturi plius’) is a laboratory of sociospatial experimentation. Initially formed as an informal collective, 54°+ was founded by two people, Kotryna Valiukevičiūtė and Arnoldas Stramskas. It draws on larger network of collaborators and partners to research and intervene in various urban and rural settings, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation. The past and current projects include City(RE)SEARCHES: Experiences of Being Public (EU Culture program), community development program (Via Foundation), Temporary Visibilities (TANDEM EU-Ukraine), KIOSK project in Ž. Šančiai district of Kaunas (Lithuania), ongoing research and development collaboration with Žeimiai manor house (Lithuania) and Centro Negra: a space of investigation and contemporary creation (Blanca, Spain). Represented by: Arnoldas Stramskas A2 A2 is a Czech cultural bi-weekly reflecting culture in the broad sense of the word, including social events and politics. Published every other Wednesday, it offers 32 pages about literature, film, art, theatre, music, and of course politics. A2 was established in October 2005, published as a weekly until December 2008. Our main effort is to approach quality living art in context - be it the context of other art categories, the context of civil society or the context of both Czech and international art production. We seek works and tendencies giving a true picture of our time, frequently a more sensitive, accurate, prompt and irritating one than we would like it to be. Represented by: Jan Bělíček, Apolena Rychlíková, Pavel Šplíchal

Dissent Dissent is a New York-based left-wing magazine. Founded by Irving Howe and a group of dissenting intellectuals in 1954, it publishes political and cultural criticism that attempts to give new life and meaning to the idea of democratic radicalism in America. Its editors and writers have included Michael Walzer, Marshall Berman, Hannah Arendt, Ellen Willis, and Richard Rorty, and it is currently co-edited by Michael Kazin and David Marcus. As of late, the magazine has been experiencing a modest renaissance as a new generation of leftists are making it their home. Represented by: David Marcus Esc Atelier ESC atelier is a self-managed and autonomous space where, since its occupation in 2004, we build up several projects linked at the local, European and global level with other experiences belonging to grass roots movements, radical collectives, and independent associations. The right to the city and the creation of practices of commoning are at the core of its activity within Rome (Italy). Our main projects are: InfoPrecaria/CLAP (http://clap-info.net) is the project for organization of precarious workers part of a city network. Our association provides free legal helpdesk with volunteering lawyers, available for advice, consultancy and lawsuits. InfoMigrante (http://infomigrante.wordpress.com) provides free legal helpdesk and administrative aid related to immigration visa, and it offers a free language school (documents are not required) that is part of a city network of schools (ESCool). LUM (www.lumproject.org) is a Free Metropolitan University, independent from the academy, that since 2005 organizes free and open seminars. InfoSex is a collective that work on gender and health aid issues. The group is mixed and involved in a feminist city network made by doctors, students, psychologists and precarious workers. Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ivre is a festival where nearly forty independent publishers and thirty winemakers create a space of independence from monopolies of publishing industry. ESC contributes to the web platform DINAMO PRESS (www.dinamopress.it), a metropolitan webzine created and animated by activists and people involved in social struggles. Represented by: Claudia Bernardi, Luca Cafagna, Paolo Do

European Cultural Foundation The European Cultural Foundation strives for an open, democratic and inclusive Europe within which culture is a valued and key contributor. We support and connect cultural change-makers whose work contributes to an ongoing cross-sectoral debate on Europe and Europe’s place in the world. The ECF imagines the future, seek creative solutions and act as a catalyst. We bridge citizens and institutions, policy-making and practice. We are reflective. We explore, learn and share knowledge. In 2013 the ECF initiated Connected Action for the Commons, a programme in which Krytyka Polityczna is one of the key partners. Represented by: Menno Weijs European Alternatives European Alternatives (EA) is a transnational civil society organisation and citizens movement promoting democracy, equality and culture beyond the nation state. New forms of transnational citizenship and new practices of transnational participation must be fostered. Our model is simultaneously transnational and very local, it is bottom-up and participative: our work programme and activities are developed and led by our activists across the continent. It is creative and experimental: whilst we see the importance of conferences, debates and lectures, we try to innovate with formats for campaigns and actions attracting public interest through festivals, art exhibitions, video projections, games and other creative activities, and we integrate artists and culture workers into our working groups on all issues. We aim to cross between disciplines and sectors, taking a wide view of social, political and cultural issues, and seeing how they interact. Represented by: Noel Hatch Fiatal Képzőművészek Stúdiója Egyesület Fiatal Képzőművészek Stúdiója Egyesület / The Studio of Young Artists’ Association (SYAA) is a professional organisation, which has been functioning for more than 5 decades, always giving dynamic responses to current art and social issues. The Association has a membership of about 450 artists, art historians, and critics. Represented by: Ágnes Básthy

Human Platform Association Human Platform Association (HP) unites professional associations, NGOs and individuals working in the field of health care, culture, education and social care. HP is dedicated to represent and protect professional values, improve quality of life and foster social solidarity. HP take part in the mobilization of civil society. We support the establishment and consolidation of grassroot organizations and initiatives, and cooperate with them in achieving out common goals. We stand up for democratic rights, and for the respect of minority opinions and the diversity of values. With the toolkit of the civil society, we fight for social mobility and against inequalities, and espouse decent human life. Represented by: KĂĄroly FĂźzessi Human Rights Institute HRI aims at protecting and promoting the equal access to all human rights for all. It has been established in 2011 and in the meantime became the biggest, non-threshold member-based human rights organization in Slovakia. Our main objectives are: raising awareness and educating about human rights, so as to create a sense of ownership for them amongst Slovak citizens and thereby mobilize them for causes when human rights are at risk of erosion or curtailing. We combine global and local issues and causes for better understanding of the universality of human rights and for creating a sense amongst the Slovaks that they can and should stand up for their rights and the rights of citizens beyond their borders. Our main campaigns include: Wikileaks Slovakia; Fight against rightwing extremism; Economic, social and cultural rights: Raising awareness amongst professional groups and NGOs to use ESCR framework in their work; raising awareness materials for young people; LGBT rights: Yearly public voting anti-price 'The homophobe of the Year', aiming at naming and shaming public homophobic speech; Publishing materials debunking myths around LGBT people for high school students; Human Rights Education: Yearly competition on writing blogs on human rights for high school students; Running successful Human Rights Blog; Superpowers against human rights: Joining global movements for actual human rights violations and causes (i.e. Chelsea Manning, Pussy Riot) Represented by: Alena KrempaskĂĄ

Institut pro rozvoj levicové teorie Institut pro rozvoj levicové teorie (Institute for the development of leftist theory) is an educational project aimed at raising awareness of predominantly Marxist and post-Marxist theory. Represented by: Matìj Metelec Kalecki Foundation Kalecki Foundation is an independent Polish think tank established in 2014. The Foundation’s main aim is to broaden the public debate on economic policy in Poland by promoting views and approaches that are currently not represented in the mainstream macroeconomic discourse. We reach out to heterodox economic theories (post-keynesian, institutional, behavioural) to explain the processes happening in the contemporary economy. We place emphasis on the importance of empirical approach, combining the methods of economic research with analytical tools provided by other social sciences (sociology, history, law). We believe that the participation in public discussions on economic policy should not be restricted to narrow circles of formally educated economists. The ongoing debate on the relationship between the state and the economy needs to be held in a more democratic way allowing citizens and the general public to take part in it alongside economists and other experts. Represented by: Jędrek Malko, Szymon Grela Kalektar Kalektar is a research platform on the history of Belarusian contemporary art (founded by artists Sergei Shabohin and Sergei Kiruschenko and curator Aleksei Borisionok). It compiles different projects focused on the production of the narrative of Belarusian contemporary art in the form of archive, informal art education, production of artistic, curatorial and educational projects, critical reflection on the conundrums of cultural and political situation in Belarus from the leftist perspective. Represented by: Aliaksei Barysionak

Kaliska Inicjatywa Miejska We are active in the city of Kalisz. We bring together activists who want to participate in shaping the development of the city. Currently we are running an online service about the work of the members of the City Council (www.kalisz.mamprawowiedziec.pl) and the project “The City Is What Counts. Grassroots Analysis of the City Budget” (second edition) – to enhance the residents’ knowledge about the budget, transparency of public information for which the municipality is responsible. We facilitate, with expert guidance, the dialogue between the representatives of the municipality and the residents, and help the residents develop their skills as partners and agents in the decision-making process (www. liczysiemiasto.pl). We cooperate with the municipality on drafting the rules of participatory budgeting of the city, and on creating a new formula of local initiatives as well as setting the standards for bicycle lanes in Kalisz. Represented by: Anna Linkowska, Marek Tworek, Kalina Michocka, Mikołaj Pancewicz Kettős Mérce Kettős Mérce (KM) continuously reports on ongoing events, demonstrations and incidents. Its Facebook page has more than 50 000 followers. KM pays special attention to the following issues: real time reactions to the actions of the political actors deemed problematic, faulty or irresponsible by the authors and editor; the diverse instances of social inequality; the respect for, and extension of, social rights; active citizenship; homelessness; gender issues, etc. Occasionally global topics also come into the spotlight. Articles cover both current affairs as well as generally important matters that should be brought on the public agenda. The analyses and proposals manifestly adopt a New Left ideological perspective. Represented by: Károly Füzessi

Oberliht Founded in 2000 and based on rather long working experience as an independent cultural actor, “Oberliht” aims to interconnect dispersed artistic scenes and build an artistic community making use of public spaces. The Association aims to provide support to young artists and contribute to their professional development. It develops and maintains interdisciplinary platforms and projects aiming to connect the local and international contemporary art and culture initiatives, and advocates for a strong and independent cultural sector in Moldova and in the region. The activity of Oberliht Association follows the principles of self-organization and non-profit activity. Oberliht Association aims to grant support to young artists from Moldova and from wider European region (Central and Eastern Europe / former Soviet Union states / Black Sea region) by establishing platforms that allow interested artists, curators and cultural workers to initiate and carry out contemporary art projects with young artists’ participation (workshops, exhibitions etc.), thus addressing their needs, but also addressing different issues like public space as part of democratic infrastructure, community art projects, networking, mobility and others, through visual arts but also through other artistic disciplines like literature and architecture, or non-artistic ones like sociological research and urban planning. Issues related to built environment and city development are often present in our projects due to the role which urban planning and architecture have in projecting public space, and thus fostering or diminishing social cohesion or increasing/decreasing opportunities and representation for most of the people. Represented by: Lilia Nenescu, Vitalie Sprînceană, Vladimir Us OSIFE The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. Represented by: Donal Mac Fhearraigh

pARTisan pARTisan project is a media project, which includes pARTisan magazines about Contemporary Belarusian Culture (since 2002), the pARTisan’s Collection series (albums by Belarusian artists, since 2009) and the webportal partisanmag.by (sinse 2012). The founder and editor-in-chief is Artur Klinau. We explore and present the most current, questionable, often controversial phenomena in Belarusian culture — art, literature, music, cinema, theatre. We create and expose idols, construct and destroy myths. We seek to open borders not only in a figurative, but also in a literal sense: to keep track of new trends in the world art, to collaborate with foreign authors, to publish special issues on contemporary cultures of other countries (Switzerland, Poland, Germany, etc.). In 2013 pARTisan became a partner of the international project “Report on Construction of a SpaceshipModule” covered the archives of postsoviet East-European countries with big exhibition in New Museum in New York where were used the material from our archive. In 2014 photo. tapeta edition (German) was published the special book about pARTisan’s activity (Artur Klinau “PARTISANEN. Kultur_macht_Belarus”). Member of Eurozine network since 2014. Represented by: Tatsiana Artsimovich Podemos Podemos is a Spanish emerging party compared often with Syriza, following on the steps of 15-M, that in the recent local elections has won several cities in broad alliances with citizens' platforms. I'm currently MP in the parliament of Madrid and have been developing work on transparency and finances. Represented by: Miguel Ongil

Політична критика Political Critique Ukraine, a sub-project of VCRC, was born in 2012. Firstly, Political Critique Ukraine was an annual magazine dedicated to problematic issues of Ukrainian society. However, given the digitization processes, January 2015 the website of Political Critique was launched. The project of Political Critique Ukraine appeared thanks to close collaboration between VCRC and Polish “Krytyka Polityczna” (Political Critique). Political Critique sees its mission in propagating by the means of its printed publications and the website the ideas of equality and nondiscrimination in social and economic spheres. Represented by: Oleg Hrynchuk, Vadym Hudyma, Ruslana Koziienko, Nataliia Lomonosova, Roksolana Mashkova, Serhii Movchan, Dariia Rachok, Ivan Shmatko, Oksana Briukhovetska Socialistická Solidarita Socialistická Solidarita is Czech anticapitalist orgnaization engaged in various campaigns and social movements. Represented by: Adam Bartoš Solidarita Magazine Solidarita is a Czech anti-capitalist paper aiming to build a network of activists, actively engage in politics and broaden the political debate with new topics. Represented by: Jan Májíèek Szturm na szkoły “We want to generate in schools the atmosphere of intellectual restlessness, involvement with matters that concern society as a whole, to shake the youth out of the prevailing stasis and lethargy.” Szturm na szkoły, 1962 Szturm na szkoły originated as an initiative on the part of a group of students in 2010. We started with organising debates in Warsaw’s secondary schools, with a view to bring up to school youth significant social issues. Currently the actions of Szturm na szkoły have the form of reading classes, where we discuss seminal texts of the Left. Apart from that, we get involved in the actions by Political Critique, such as Jacek Kuroń Festival. Represented by: Mikołaj Bendyk, Stanisław Chankowski, Maja Głowacka, Dawid Kowalczyk

The “Nie z tej Bajki” Association for the Animation of Culture Ostrowiec Świętokszyski is in no respect a special city. Just as the majority of Polish middle-size cities it has its problems with the emigration of youth and unemployment. Young artists and culture workers who returned to their hometown after graduation and could not find valuable cultural offer, much less an opportunity for personal or professional development, established in 2007 the “Nie z tej Bajki” Association for the Animation of Culture. In our association we carry out artistic activities in derelict spaces, bringing new life to: a forlorn railway station, an old tenement or a former factory workers’ cultural centre, but also to the neglected fragments of public space and to the post-industrial grounds of a former steelworks. Focusing on the white patches in the local history, through projects that draw on oral history, we seek to critically approach the official history of the city, and to popularise knowledge about the multicultural and industrial past of Ostrowiec. The source of inspiration and the terrain of our pursuits is to a large degree the post-industrial grounds of the former Ostrowiec Steel Mill. The chief action in this context is the annual project “Supper in the Mill,” which originated from our desire to revive a terrain long dead to industry, and to give it a new dimension: artistic, cultural and social. The crowning of a few-years-long effort to adapt – to at least a marginal degree – the grounds of the steelworks, and make it available to cultural activists, came in September 2013, when we opened the “Quality Control” Open Studio. The place, at the heart of the former steelworks, serves both as an exhibition/workshop space and the artists’ studios, while being also home to the association. Represented by: Maciej Biedka, Marcin Jedlikowski, Katarzyna Mazan, Wojtek Mazan The Baltic Branch of National Centre for Contemporary Arts The Baltic Branch of National Centre for Contemporary Arts is the only organisation in the Kaliningrad region working directly in the field of contemporary art. Its mission is to form an intellectual space of analysis, experiment and critique and to encourage an understanding of art as one of the key factors of development in sociocultural sphere. Because of the Kaliningrad region’s position as an exclave surrounded by EU countries, BB NCCA main priority is to maintain long-term relationships with its partners in Baltic region. Represented by: Yulia Bardun

Time to Talk Time to Talk is a young and vibrant pan-European network of centres of debate, dedicated to stimulating discussion on the key socio-political themes of the day. Established in 2011, the network brings together debate centres from all across Europe, including non-EU states such as Turkey and Russia. Picking up where public discourse leaves off, TTT tackles those vital questions, which mainstream commentaries all too often either ignore or only superficially observe and network members look to confront uncomfortable issues and offer inspiring new points of view, always encouraging audience participation. With a different focus point each year, Time to Talk strives to approach the big problems facing European communities on both local – through its partners – and international – through the combination of all these local perspectives and their coming together online – levels. Previous themes have included, What’s wrong with Europe? What does the future hold for Europe? [2012-2013] and The crisis of trust in Europe: how to build new bonds of mutual confidence [2014- 2015] and Time to Talk members meet once a year to discuss future collaborations and to familiarise themselves with each other’s work. Whatever its current focus, Time to Talk aims to bring cititzens together in deliberation, encouraging them to respectfully disagree with each other and thereby to remain open-minded and curious about the world around them. Represented by: Matthew Cruickshank Tranzit Tranzit is a non-governmental non-profit agency for support of cultural initiatives established in 2002 with a view to facilitate development of cultural field in the Kaliningrad region and promote culture as resource for regional social and economic development. Represented by: Yulia Bardun

Uniti salvam Uniti Salvam (United we save) is a non-formal organisation born in the middle of our struggle to save the Rosia Montana site and act against exploitation of shale gas site. The first event took place on 1 September 2013, and at the height of the movement we had about 50k in the streets of Bucharest and another 100k on the same day in the streets of other cities of Romania and around the world. Represented by: Alina Florina Caradeanu, Alexandru Cirstea, Sanziana Dobrovicescu, Emilia Holtea, Lucian Cristian Oancea Visual Culture Research Center Visual Culture Research Center (VCRC) was founded in 2008 as a platform for collaboration between academic, artistic, and activist communities. VCRC is an independent initiative, which is engaged in publishing and artistic activities, scientific research, organization of public lectures, discussions, and conferences. In 2015 Visual Culture Research Center received the European Cultural Foundation’s Princess Margriet Award. Represented by: Ruslana Koziienko, Nataliia Lomonosova, Anna Oriekhova, Oksana Briukhovetska ZK/U (Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik) ZK/U (Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik) is a non-profit organization initiated by the artist collective KUNSTrePUBLIK e.V.. The association managed to become the owner of the former railway depot and holds a 40 year lease on the ground. The ZK/U sees itself as a laboratory for inter- and trans-disciplinary, activities centred on the phenomenon of “the city”. ZK/U promotes international exchange on global issues, in the light of what is happening in one’s own backyard. Working with local and international partners, ZK/U residencies brings together critical minds at the cutting-edge of artistic production and urban research. Represented by: Miodrag Kuc

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS (BY COUNTRIES) Name, organisation Belarus Aliaksei Barysionak, Kalektar.org Tatsiana Artsimovich, pARTisan Bulgaria Mariya Ivancheva Czech Republic Jan Bělíček, A2 Apolena Rychlíková, A2 Pavel Šplíchal, A2 Matěj Metelec, Institut pro rozvoj levicové teorie Veronika Pehe, PoliticalCritique.org Adam Bartoš, Socialistická Solidarita Jan Májíček, Solidarita Germany Marcela Lopez FU Berlin Miodrag Kuc, ZK/U Berlin Hungary Barbara Erős, Demnet Istvan Bukovics, Demnet Hunor Kiraly, Demnet Ágnes Básthy, FKSE Károly Füzessi, Kettős Mérce, Humán Platform Ireland Donal Mac Fhearraigh, OSIFE Italy Claudia Bernardi, Esc Atelier Luca Cafagna, Esc Atelier Paolo Do, Esc Atelier Lithuania Arnoldas Stramskas, 54°+

Moldova Lilia Nenescu, Oberliht Vitalie Sprinceana, Oberliht Vladimir Us, Oberliht Netherlands Menno Weijs, European Cultural Foundation Poland Jędrzej Malko, Fundacja Kaleckiego Szymon Grela, Fundacja Kaleckiego Anna Linkowska, Kaliska Inicjatywa Miejska Marek Tworek, Kaliska Inicjatywa Miejska Kalina Michocka, Kaliska Inicjatywa Miejska Mikołaj Pancewicz, Kaliska Inicjatywa Miejska Anna Jarosz, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Natalia Kałuża, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Sandra Kasperek, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Agnieszka Muras, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Anna Pluta, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Anna Studnica-Cieplak, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Joanna Wowrzeczka, Krytyka Polityczna in Cieszyn Julia Gierczak, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Ewa Graczyk, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Marcin Grudziński, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Aleksandra Hołubowicz, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Adam Konopka, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Dominik Krzymiński, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Agata Larczyńska, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Tomek Larczyński, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Przemysław Minta, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Aleksandra Mosiołek, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Elżbieta Rutkowska, Krytyka Polityczna in Gdańsk Paweł Bartkowiak, Krytyka Polityczna in Gniezno Kamila Kasprzak, Krytyka Polityczna in Gniezno Łukasz Dąbrowiecki, Krytyka Polityczna in Kraków Mikołaj Denderski, Krytyka Polityczna in Kraków Krzysztof Juruś, Krytyka Polityczna in Kraków Magdalena Łuczyn, Krytyka Polityczna in Lublin Iza Desperak, Krytyka Polityczna in Łódź Marek Jedliński, Krytyka Polityczna in Łódź Ewa Linek, Krytyka Polityczna in Łódź Waldemar Marzec, Krytyka Polityczna in Łódź

Borys Cymbrowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Opole Magdalena Ozimek, Krytyka Polityczna in Opole Michał Pytlik, Krytyka Polityczna in Opole Szymon Pytlik, Krytyka Polityczna in Opole Maciej Biedka, Krytyka Polityczna in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski / Nie z tej Bajki Marcin Jedlikowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski / Nie z tej Bajki Katarzyna Mazan, Krytyka Polityczna in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski / Nie z tej Bajki Wojtek Mazan , Krytyka Polityczna in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski / Nie z tej Bajki Michał Borucki, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Marcin Chałupka, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Jakub Dymek, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Dominik Hanelt, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Maria Klaman, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Pat Kulka, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Julian Kutyła, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Jakub Majmurek, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Marta Modzelewska, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Bartek Modzelewski, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Sławomir Sierakowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Igor Stokfiszewski, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Michał Sutowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Joanna Tokarz-Haertig, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Kamil Trepka, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Patryk Walaszkowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Agnieszka Wiśniewska, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Dominika Wróblewska, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw Dawid Krawczyk, Krytyka Polityczna in Wrocław Ula Lukierska, Krytyka Polityczna in Wrocław Maciej Mandelt, Krytyka Polityczna in Wrocław Natalia Sawka, Krytyka Polityczna in Wrocław Przemysław Witkowski, Krytyka Polityczna in Wrocław Mikołaj Bendyk, Szturm na szkoły Stanisław Chankowski, Szturm na szkoły Maja Głowacka, Szturm na szkoły Dawid Kowalczyk, Szturm na szkoły Zofia Sikorska, Szturm na szkoły Maciej Komorowski Justyna Tafel

Romania Andreea Ioana Ignișca, Uniti salvam Alexandru Cirstea, Uniti salvam Sanziana Dobrovicescu, Uniti salvam Emilia Holtea, Uniti salvam Lucian Cristian Oancea, Uniti salvam Russia Yulia Bardun, Baltic Branch of the National Centre for Contemporary Arts / “Tranzit” Sergei Ermakov Maksim Kulaev Slovakia Alena Krempaská, Human Rights Institute Spain Hector Huerga, 15M Barcelona International Miguel Ongil, Podemos UK Noel Hatch, European Alternatives Matthew Cruickshank, Time to Talk Ukraine Anna Oriekhova, Visual Culture Research Center Oksana Briukhovetska,Visual Culture Research Center / Політична критика Ruslana Koziienko, Visual Culture Research Center / Політична критика Nataliia Lomonosova, Visual Culture Research Center / Політична критика Oleg Hrynchuk, Політична критика Vadym Hudyma, Політична критика Roksolana Mashkova, Політична критика Serhii Movchan, Політична критика Dariia Rachok, Політична критика Ivan Shmatko, Політична критика USA David Marcus, Dissent Magazine

POLITICAL CRITIQUE CULTURAL CENTRE “ON THE BORDER” IN CIESZYN

Cultural Centre “On The Border” in Cieszyn hosts open debates, lectures, seminars, concerts, art shows and exhibitions, and daily meetings for children and youth. It is also a reading room and a bookshop. The chief idea of the Cultural Centre, which has informed its operations since its inception in 2009, is work with children and contribution to building cultural capital. The originator of the Cultural Centre, Joanna Wowrzeczka, was nominated for the “Wysokie Obcasy” women’s magazine’s Polish Woman of the Year Award in 2009. In 2012, Political Critique Cultural Centre in Cieszyn was honoured with the “Otwieracz/Opener” award, conferred on organisations acting for openness and for the promotion of open models of creating and publishing knowledge and culture. Over the five years of its activity the Cultural Centre organised more than 200 free events (concerts, lectures, discussions, panel debates, workshops, film screenings). Political Critique invited to Cieszyn many renowned guests, including professor Tadeusz Kowalik, president of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, journalist Jacek Żakowski, artists Joanna Rajkowska and Anna Baumgart, Hubert Czerepok, professor Grzegorz Klaman, Stanisław Ruksza, professor Jerzy Hausner, professor Magdalena Środa, Henryka Krzywonos, Ludwika Wujec, Tadeusz Sławek and Kazimiera Szczuka. Late in 2014 the Cultural Centre celebrated its 5th anniversary. On that occasion, a journalist for Gazeta Codzienna spoke to Anna Cieplak and Agnieszka Muras. Cieszyn Is Like Dogville Małgorzata Bryl: It is not long ago that Political Critique Cultural Centre “On the border” celebrated its fifth anniversary. Nevertheless I would like to go back in time to its beginnings and ask what are some of the positive and negative surprises you have experienced in this town. The question may be a little provocative, as Agnieszka told me it had been difficult, when working on “The Alternative Map of Cieszyn,” to go beyond negative thinking about the town.

Ania Cieplak: Right at the beginning of our work in Cieszyn some positive energy was generated around the Political Critique hype. We were very kindly received by the Zamek Cieszyn – they gave the building of a former customs post [Cieszyn is a border town, where – prior to Poland and Czech Republic’s accession to the Schengen zone – traffic across the border was closely controlled] to NGOs. We were spared long negotiations and pleading, which was a large advantage. There hadn’t been a place like that before, so many students were really impressed that they could do their stuff outside university. And another positive surprise was that our events attracted considerable audiences, that there were quite a few people appearing around the PC. Agnieszka Muras: That’s right, that’s probably the greatest fun of the whole thing. At the same time we were involved with both circles, thanks to which our activity was diverse. A.C.: It is definitely to Cieszyn’s credit that it takes you quite some time to discover it. It is a challenge. There are many charismatic figures linked to culture living here, whom we met only after three years of hearing about them from our friends. Here it takes time for you to understand the place’s historical and cultural context. A.M.: But on the other hand, and that’s what’s really important to me, our interests were reaching further away. We were determined to have guests coming from beyond. We have made a point of stressing that Political Critique’s is a space open to debate on other topics, not only those having to do strictly with Cieszyn or the university. And did the local community buy that kind of broader dialogue right when you started it? A.M.: Yes, but back then we hadn’t grown roots in the city yet, and felt more comfortable in topics that were of interest to us. Our actions were addressed to a rather narrow audience, mostly students. A.C.: Cieszyn is like Dogville. Initially you feel good. But once you’ve started digging into this town, you come across problems, and over time it becomes disagreeable to some. Everything is fine as long as you don’t raise issues that are painful to the local community.

A.M.: Or as long as you’re not perceived as threat to this community. A.C.: On the minus side, there’s the resistance on the part of some Cieszynians to the idea that we should be related to Political Critique. Many people approve of our activity but never do it in the open. It is difficult for us to understand just why it is so. My impression is that people who are straightforward about things are not socially acceptable. It is more frequent to say things behind others’ backs. A.M.: I’m also concerned that a good number of initiatives are being nipped in the bud. Activists and residents have initiated really worthy actions. Unfortunately, in recent years many of them were opposed by the local government. The result is that we make a step forward and then three steps backward. Fewer and fewer students consider staying here after graduation. A.C.: Cieszyn has strong NGOs but it doesn’t make sufficient use of this fact, while municipal institutions are – most of them –weak. This is a town famous for its culture, but not for the culture which is eligible for state support. This is something that we find paradoxical about Cieszyn. A.M.: One example may be that of the city theatre, whose director has not introduced innovations to the institution, while holding his post for over 35 years. At the same time, the CST theatre, which did a lot of good, and is our town’s cultural flagship cannot depend on the municipal support. Does Cieszyn condition you? Does it, to use the expression from one of your projects, make you take up activities, at work and in your private lives, which you don’t feel like doing? A.C.: As far as work is concerned, we are not dependent on the local government, as we are rarely awarded financial support from the city (this year we received just one grant worth € 1,300, for holiday activities for children). Our subsistence as an institution doesn’t depend on subsidies from the city budget. Which means we are fully independent in shaping the profile of our activities. Nevertheless it is just this kind of enforcement when we have to constantly demand explanations in matters regarding the city, and to publicise those matters and make this knowledge available to the public on our own, for

instance we have to ask for the information regarding issues that tend to be swept under the carpet. There is plenty of information that simply does not reach the residents, there is no real consulting issues with the public. If the services operated properly, we wouldn’t have to do it. We do it because the city fails here. A.M.: My observation is also that the institutions responsible for education in the city are, communication-wise, not sufficiently wellconnected to one another for people to have the sense of the system that really works. Of course, they are in touch with one another, but it’s hard to map out paths for making their respective actions coordinated, and bring their joint efforts to a specific child, should need arise. And Cieszyn is by no means exceptional in this respect. A.C.: Our lives as residents are conditioned by the problem about which people have recently been ever more vocal: that of poor communication. And what I mean by this is communication as a system of exchanging information, but also transportation. If the mayor is now saying the city has no need for a new press spokesperson, it doesn’t augur well for the communication between the municipality and the residents. We will press the actors of the new political set-up on it really hard, because trust cannot be restored without changes in how communication in the city works. If we could get more mathematical, what percentage of Cieszynians are active, committed to the life of their town, selflessly acting for the common good? A.C.: As a rule it remains a very low percentage, although in situations of emergency people can band together and fight for something. Of course these are momentary uprisings, not long-term effort. When we find ourselves in danger, we react. Other than that few people work voluntarily to prevent such crises. Referring to your project of “Alternative Map of Cieszyn,” I would like to draw another map, let’s call it “Map of Commitment.” Who gives themselves to Cieszyn and what places would you mark on such a map?

A.C.: An attempt in “mapping social commitment” was establishing the Federation of NGOs and Social Economy Entities. Under the umbrella of the federation associated are organisations which, apart from going about their statutory goals, do things like keeping track of the documents issued by the municipality. A.M.: But one has to be aware just what kind of commitment we are discussing. If we are talking about the kind of activity associated with, say, city activists in Kraków, there are no such organisations to be found in Cieszyn. Neither do we have watchdogs, whose statutory duties consist in keeping close tabs on the goings-on of the municipal institutions day in day out. On the other hand, there are plenty of cultural organisations, committed to the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage. There are also organisations engaged, for years now, in the organisation of Cieszyn’s most prominent and recognizable events, such as the “Kino na Granicy / Cinema on the Border” film festival or the Theatre Festival “Bez Granic / No Borders.” So there would be no point in drawing up a map of city activists, for there would be no one to be marked on it? A.C.: I don’t know. I have mixed feelings, because in spite of everything, I am aware that there are people in Cieszyn who help the elderly or the handicapped. Those are very socially committed activities, which we cannot see, as some people in the city we just don’t notice, but they are a decent-sized group. The people who do it don’t make a show of themselves, and after work they give themselves fully to their passions. For instance there is a mister Ryszka, who visits schools and gives talks, free of charge, on the topic of multiple sclerosis. Such people are the real silent heroes of this town, whose stories haven’t been written yet. Does Cieszyn need revolution? A.M.: I don’t really like the word, because… A.C.: … it comes with an obligation. Plus it has become a slogan so frequently repeated without taking any responsibility. And the city, in our case Cieszyn, is a common good, and one needs to learn to take

responsibility for it. To paraphrase Political Critique’s patron, Stanisław Brzozowski, revolution cannot replace work. A.M.: Yes. Besides, revolution means changing something in an oppressive manner, which causes a certain group of people to be unhappy. I could accept only its softer version, where the departure point is a popular agreement on what needs to be changed, and then, once the action has begun, sticking to the line delimited in it. I’m under the impression that here people are talking and talking about the direction of changes and that’s the end of it, because there never is enough enthusiasm or maybe simply enough time to act and fulfil the goals that have been set. A.C.: Yes, action is essential, but maybe let’s not call it a revolution. There are regions of our town that are having serious difficulties. If we don’t articulate our demands firmly enough, the situation there will exacerbate. But OK, it will still require that we trespass into the domains, which are here protected under the tacit agreement both of us have mentioned. I mean certain fossilized, inflexible situations and arrangements: institutions, places and people in high places, all of which we mentioned earlier. For example, if we say we need a press spokesperson for the city, it doesn’t mean we need someone who will do the job of the former spokesperson but we need to rehash the whole concept of the position and invest the new person with prerogatives different from the former one’s. A.M.: It is going to be difficult, as we live in a town where everyone knows one another, and is afraid of messing with the status quo. But a courage is needed to say that changes are not about destroying someone for personal reasons, but that they are about the common good. And Cieszyn does need changes in order to develop.

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