Ideas of Solidarity for the future generations

European Solidarity Centre has been established to preserve the heritage and retain a fond memory of Solidarność in order to hand it down to the future generations, while stressing its relevance and universal value.

The future building of the European Solidarity Centre; opening is planned for 2013. Project by PPWFORT Ltd.

The first task, retrospective in its nature, was to realise a modern, interactive museum demonstrating how the events in the Gdańsk Shipyard initiated the fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe. The Centre also accommodates a multimedia archive and the library, with a collection of dispersed and neglected souvenirs of Solidarność. Together with exhibitions- permanent, and mobile - ESC acts to strengthen the awareness of modern history, which is pivotal in building a European identity.

The second goal of ESC activity, the prospective one, is to hand down the heritage, ideas and notion of solidarityto the future generations. Solidarity, understood as the concern about the well being and com- mon interest, and unity with respect for diversity, is still very relevant in modern society and worthy of all efforts of enhancement. Therefore, one of the most important areas of activity in this respect is education.

The European Solidarity Centre is a multifunctional institution combining scientific, cultural and educational activity with a modern museum and archive, documenting freedom movements in the modern history of Poland and Europe. The Letter of Intent to create ESC was signed by the heads of state and government, who gathered in Gdańsk in 2005, on the 25th anniversary of Solidarność. The Centre was established in Gdańsk on 8 November 2007, by the Minister of Culture, the Marshall of the Pomeranian Voivodship, the President of Gdańsk, the President of the European Solidarity Centre Foundation and the Chairman of the NSZZ Solidarność Trade Union.

ESC organises workshops, seminars, lectures and debates for young people, their teachers and local leaders, from Europe. ESC is also a cultural institution creating its own events and projects, and organising concerts and festivals with a view to inspiring fresh and new artistic movements.

Finally, it is active in historical research and social science to understand and explain the notion of freedom, justice and solidarity in order to become a centre of co-operation and integration, sharing the heritage of solidarity and its advocacy for justice, democracy and human rights with those who are deprived of it.