Cultural Gdynia

by Ms Karin Moder

Wiithin the last four years there has been a major change in the quality of Gdynia's cultural offer both in the context of organisation and preparation as well as contents and artistic value. What has basically changed is that Gdynia as a city has become a cultural product. Persistence in identity building as a city open to new modern events and young dynamic artists has resulted not only in interesting projects but first and foremost has made Gdynia a magnet attracting artists and culture organisers.

Gdynia has become a city of festivals and regular competitions, the most important one being Open'er Festival considered by the international press to be one of the 6 major music festivals in Europe. A nationwide Modern Theatre Festival R@port - a review of the best Polish modern plays marks new quality of theatre life in the city. For 7 days it turns Gdynia into country's theatre capital. Gdynia is also a co-organiser of the Polish Film Festival. Owing to a rich programme of accompanying events the festival has evolved from a branch event into a film feast of the whole city. In 2006 the Literary Award "Gdynia" was initiated. It is presented in three categories to the best literary works on the Polish publishing market within the last year. The press hailed it as prestigious even before it was presented for the first time.

These and other festivals or competitions as well as municipal events have led to Gdynia's regular presence in the media in the last four years. Thanks to live broadcasts of concerts, live programmes as well as press and radio coverage Gdynia has gained the opinion of a place where there is always a lot going on in all fields of cultural life.

Today Gdynia may choose from a wide range of cultural offers each year directed to the city. There have also appeared many projects of young artists for whom Gdynia is a safe haven. In the summer time hardly any week or even day passes without an interesting cultural event. Event organisers, aware of this fact, reserve dates in Gdynia calendar even one year in advance. Thanks to this the cultural offer of Gdynia prepared for both the inhabitants and tourists is a wide and diverse one.