04 December 2019
Lecture By Director of the International Cultural Centre Sheds Light on Krakow, Poland, At Bahrain National Museum Lecture Hall
Bahrain National Museum Lecture Hall hosted on 4 December 2019, lecture entitled "Culture & the City: About Krakow" by Ms. Agata Wasowska-Pawlik, Director of the International Cultural Centre in Krakow, which was attended by Her Excellency Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director General of Culture and Arts, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, lovers and culture enthusiasts in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
During her lecture, Ms. Wasowska-Pawlik showcased elements of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Krakow, highlighting the importance of balancing development and cultural heritage preservation. Ms. Agata Wasowska-Pawlik went on to say that at the heart of the International Cultural Centre's work is a multidimensional approach to cultural heritage, conducting dialogue and interdisciplinary research into culture and heritage in Europe and elsewhere in the world, given that the ICC is the most important cultural centre in Poland. The ICC has the status of a national institution of culture, active in the fields of research, education, publishing and exhibitions. It pursues its mission of public diplomacy by facilitating international cultural dialogue, taking Central Europe as the point of departure for its action and thought on heritage.
Ms. Agata Wasowska-Pawlik also said that the city of Kraków, given its strategic geographical location, is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city that dates back to the 7th century, has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland’s most important economic hubs. She also pointed out that the city has undergone many huge urban, cultural and economic changes and transformations after the WWII, preserving at the same time the cultural heritage of the city. Ms. Agata Wasowska-Pawlik stressed the importance of focusing on the development of individuals and better lives of social communities through urban and historical development of cities, as well as building strong relationships between culture and economic prosperity.
The exhibition The Treasures of Kraków , which will run until 31 December, is hosted by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), is currently held in collaboration between ARC_WH, Bahrain Culture Authority and the International Cultural Centre, Krakow, Poland. The exhibition recounts the tale of a city – the seat of Polish kings, former capital of the country, home to one of the oldest European universities and magnet for poets, writers and artists. The exhibition showcases accurate and detailed photos of urban and historical elements of the city, different artifacts and historical texts that date the city’s to 200 Thousand years, the beginning of the human settlement in the region until present times.
The lecture is part of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities’ rich program for its National Day celebrations along December 2019, which includes inauguration of Art and culture exhibitions, exceptional music shows, evenings of traditional folk music, creative workshops etc. For more information about Bahrain Culture Authority’s December programs, please visit our website on www.culture.gov.bh Or follow up BACA’s social media networks on @culturebah
