Widzew Community Centres (Widzewskie Domy Kultury)

National Network
Poland
Address

al. Pilsudskiego 133
92-318 Lodz, Poland

Lodz
Poland

Telephone
0048 42 673 32 90
Telephone (other)
0048 42 673 35 99
Fax
0048 42 673 35 99
E-Mail
domkult502@widzew.net
E-Mail (2)
j_mostowska@wdk.pl
Organisation Type
Public Institution
Year of Establishment
1982
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Gender
  3. Heritage
  4. International/Cultural relations
  5. Youth and education
General Information
'Widzew Community Centres' is a municipal institution of culture and cultural education. It unites three centres ('Widok' 'Ariadna' and '502') located in the same city's district. 'Widzew Communnity Centres' employs 50 people. The City Hall's yearly subsidies for the entire institution amount to about 370 000 euros. Other sources of funding (usually obtained for specific activities and projects) are mainly grants awarded by The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various foundations and grant schemes. 'Widzew Community Centres' offers artistic and educational activities for children, youth and adults. It also runs a few specific educational and cultural projects every year. The main partners of the institution are local and regional authorities, NGO's, local schools, other educational and cultural organisations, public and private non-profit foundations.
Mission and Objectives

The mission of 'Widzew Community Centres' is to promote artistic activity and offer cultural education to the general public. It works towards achieving this by providing high standard services which give a wide range of educational, recreational, and social opportunities. Educational projects are an important part of 'Widzew Community Centres' work. It is especially visible in the case of the Community Centre '502'. These projects cover various areas such as: arts, cultural heritage, cross-cultural relations, gender and cultural identity. 'Widzew Community Centres' aims to work in consultation with the local community and other statutory and voluntary agencies in developing its programme and responding to new initiatives.

Main Projects / Activities

The institution organises exhibitions, workshops, concerts, music and dance competitions, theatre performances. It runs several art clubs and courses.
Among the latest educational projects organised and co-organised by 'Widzew Community Centres' are:
2006: 'Moja saska - moja polska siostra' [My Saxon - My Polish Sister]: the project devoted to Polish-Saxon relations in the history of Lodz;
2007-2008: 'Kamienica' [The Tenement House]: the project related to the history of the Lodz Ghetto;
2008: '60 lat animowane po polsku' [60 Years Animated in Polish]: the project was a celebration of the Year of Polish Animated Films;
2008: 'Machiny do poznawania świata' [World-teaching Machines]: the project based on the idea of the kinetics sculptures;
2009: 'Glos wlokniarski pokolenia wnukow' [Textile Workers' Voice of the Grandchildren Generation]: the project explores the history of Lodz through the history of its textile industry;
2009: 'Widzew na starych i nowych widokówkach' [Widzew in Old and New Postcards].

Contact (1) Full Name
Ms. Dorota Kaniewska
Head of the organisation
Mr. Jerzy Dyszkiewicz
Contact (2) Full Name
Ms. Jadwiga Mostowska