Culture

Cultural offer of Lower Silesia includes artistic local, national and international events. Wrocław is considered to be one of the main cultural centres in Poland. The town and region music festivals became showpiece of international importance. Among them the biggest International Festival „Wratislavia Cantans”. Since 1966 in historical halls, churches and museums there are presented masterpieces of old and modern oratorio-cantata music. The other prominent cultural events of the region are: International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój, Moniuszko Festival in Kudowa Zdrój, Old Masters Music Days, National Choir Tournament Legnica Cantata, Bach Festival in Świdnica, Actors’ Song Survey in Wrocław, Wrocław Meetings of One-actor Theatres, International Drama Dialog Festival, International Film Festival Era Nowe Horyzonty, Brave Festival in Wrocław „Jazz by the Odra River” Festival International Blues Brothers Day, Wrocław Good Book Promotions, International Exhibition „Satyrykon” in Legnica, International Media Art Biennale WRO in Wrocław, International Competition of Goldsmith Art in Legnica, or famous, Guinness World Book of Records awarded in 2006 for number of playing at a time guitarists, Thanks Jimi Festival.

Diversity of the offer of drama, music, art exhibitions and other branches of art activities guarantees prominent place of Lower Silesia on the Polish cultural map. Apart from cyclic events, Wrocław Opera super productions with hundreds of actors, monumental scenery and special effects for thousands of spectators also gained international acclaim. Most frequently they are staged in interior of the Century Hall and Wrocław outdoors such as Odra River boulevard or pergola in Szczytnicki Park. Those shows are very interesting only for Polish music lovers but also for numbers of tourist who come here just to see next performance. In recent years Lower-Silesian theatres gained national and international acclaim. Among others: Drama Theatre in Wałbrzych, Helena Modrzejewska Theatre in Legnica and „Pieśń Kozła” Theatre. Many famous singers and instrumentalists from Poland and from whole world come on tour to Lower Silesia and its capital. Performances take place in historical concert halls of three Lower-Silesian Philharmonics.

There are regional and national culture institutions in the region. Among others: 42 museums, 19 theatres and music institutions, 23 art galleries, 51 cinemas, 674 libraries, 267 culture centres, clubs and day-care rooms and 36 artistic schools and colleges teaching professional artists of many fi elds. In every urban and country agglomeration of Lower Silesia there are cultural centres and organizers of cultural life.

Numerous museums located on Lower Silesia territory possess valuable collections – for instance National Mu-seum in Wrocław managed to gather a unique collection of Polish modern art. Racławice Panorama in Wrocław – the only one in Poland and unique in the world masterpiece is a great painting 15 m x 114 m) of J. Styka and W. Kossak commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the Kościuszko Resurrection. Thanks to special painter’s and technical efforts it transfers a spectator into different reality and time. Regional Museum in Środa Śląska exposition present one of the most valuable archaeological fi ndings of the 20th Century in Europe – Średzki Treasure which contains a collection of Czech Royal gems and medieval coins. The Museum of Paper-Making in Duszniki Zdrój is the only one museum in Poland on the subject. Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Góra gathered the biggest collection of artistic glass in Poland. Exposition in the Museum Of Sport and Tourism in Karpacz is also very interesting and presents genesis  and development of tourism and winter sports and also an exhibition dedicated to eminent Polish poet and playwright Tadeusz Różewicz.