Culture Initiatives

In the beginning of the 1990s Szczecin upgraded from the back-yard Polish city into Poland's gate and became independent in restating its former cultural ties and interests. The last decade proved its determination to create and promote its new image as the international cultural centre. The leadership of the UBC Com. on Culture has been one of the basic tools for stimulating new cultural initiatives. The UBC events in Szczecin since 1995 were organized by the city council in close collaboration with the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, the most active cultural institution.

Among main local scientific and cultural actors there is The Pomeranian Library, a member of the Bibliotheka Baltica Society and organizer of the last International Congress of the BSR Libraries.

In the field of visual arts Szczecin is known as the head-quarter of the Baltic Art Magazine MARE ARTICUM and the High School of Applied Arts. Szczecin has lots of choirs, music ensembles, the Philharmonic Hall and Opera & Operetta.

Theatric performances are delivered by the Contemporary Theatre, Polish Theatre and Puppet Theatre 'Pleciuga' which is the only professional puppet theatre in Western Pomerania. Since 1998 'Pleciuga' develops the 'Theatre across the borders' project which resulted in the series of performances and exhibitions as well as cycle of competitions and workshops for both Polish and German children.

Independent organisations and associations also actively contribute to the quality of culture. Among them, the KANA Theatre Association is one of the best known. KANA performs its own spectacles, at the same time organizes a lot of international theatre, dance and music projects. KANA is currently preparing for the 3^rd edition of the Street Artists Festival to be held in Szczecin in summer 2001. OFFICYNA Association is an independent city forum for experimental art. It's main field of interest are visual arts, architecture and music. OFFICYNA also develops the international Artist-in-Residency Program.