"From Gdynia … to Seattle"
Since 1994 Gdynia and Seattle have been engaged in an active
co-operation on a twin city basis. Up to the present moment a number
of common projects have been initiated, some of them are already
complete. Among them, one can find an educational undertaking:
SeattleGdynia Sister City Association (SGCSA) in co-operation with
American Cultural Exchange (A. C. E.) founded four 3-week and two
10-week English courses in Seattle for students from Gdynia. As its
contribution, The City Hall of Gdynia committed to cover students'
travel expenses.
To pick up candidates for the course in America, the City Hall of
Gdynia organised a writing competition which took place on the 16 th
March 2000. The participants in two age groups (16/ 17-year-olds and
18/ 19-year-olds), were supposed to write an essay in English on one
of the given general topics.
The students' works were read by the jury, which selected 10 best
essays in each age category. The best essays were forwarded to SGSCA
whose task would consist in selecting 4 students (from the 1 st age
category) to receive 3-week courses and 1 student (from the 2 nd age
category) to obtain a 10-week course. The sixth 10 week English
course was reserved for an orphan from one of Gdynia's orphanages as
wished by SGSCA.
During their stay in America the students will attend an English
course, live with American families, and familiarise with Seattle.
The course agendas abound in numerous activities, both outdoor and
indoor, aiming at students' introduction to American culture, but
first of all at improving of their command of English. Furthermore,
the courses will provide ideal opportunities to make long-lasting
friendships all over the world.
The official announcement of the competition results took place on
27th April 2000 in the City Hall of
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Gdynia. At present the winners look forward to
visiting the land of dreams and of bright visions - the U. S. A.
The Aalborg Triennale 2000
What and how can art, culture and industry gain from
co-operation? As a setting for this exciting crosscultural challenge
between nations, one of Aalborg's ancient city squares will be
converted into an "open atelier" from 15 to 21 
June 2000. Here the participants will create a work of art.,
according to a draft proposal sent prior the event. The task for the
artists is to present their interpretation of Peace and
Freedom.
Aalborg's twin cities sent in total 78 proposals. From among them,
the committee has picked up 25, which include fascinating paintings,
sculpture, pictorial weaving, collages etc.
The Triennale is organised by Aalborg Local Authority and the
Cultural Association of C. W. Obels Plads. The idea behind it is to
build bridges between nations, both on |
the artistic land social levels, comprising
friendship, culture and industry. The event will be marketed
nationally and internationally, to gather wide attention.
Conference on art and culture
Cultural sponsorship: Why? How? Or why not? To illustrate the theme,
a conference will be held in the Europa Hall from 20 to 21 June at
which international artists and business people will contribute with
examples of the value of cooperation between industry and the world
of art and culture.
Gallery tours
Several "gallery routes" will be arranged along which the
public will be able to study sculpture in Aalborg, visit various
galleries, including a visit to the Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum and
other city exhibition sites, where a majority of the artists taking
part in the Triennale will exhibit their own works. The event will
be financed through broad co-operation. The Danish Ministry of
Culture has contributed a sizeable amount in order to "support
an activity that will create a new, and different form of
international cultural co-operation". Several foundations, the
City of Aalborg, the Cultural Association of C. W. Obels Plads and
not least the world of business will also contribute. Businesses
will contribute by "buying an artist" through buying a
work of art and providing sponsorship.
Special exhibition
The works of art created will be jointly exhibited at Nordjyllands
Kunstmuseum so that even more people will have a chance to admire
works of art gathered in one place.
The Baltic countries well represented
Many interesting artists from Aalborg's Baltic twinned cities wish
to participate. Thus artists from Vilnius, Riga, Gdynia, Pushkin and
Kaliningrad have been invited to participate in the Aalborg
Triennale.
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