Culture in Białystok

Opera and Philharmonic
Wegierko Drama Theatre
Puppet Theatre
Podlaskie Museum in Białystok
Podlaskie Museum of Folk Culture
This is a sub-article to Białystok

Białystok is one of the largest cultural centers in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The attractions include performing arts groups, art museums, historical museums, walking tours of architectural / cultural aspects and a wide variety of parks and green spaces. Białystok in 2010 was on the short-list, but ultimately lost the competition, to become a finalist for European Capital of Culture in 2016.[1]

Arts

One of the first Polish painters in the city was Józef Zimmerman, who was entrusted with the artistic setting of the ceremony welcoming the Polish Army in February 1919. In the same year, on September 20, the first exhibition of Jewish art was organized in the Warnholca passage. In 1926 and 1928, on the initiative of the Circle of Jewish Writers and Journalists, Oskar Rozanecki, a painter and stage designer, manager of the Jewish theatre Gilarino, presented his works. It was not until the 1930s that the participation of Białystok artists in exhibitions increased.[2] In October 1930, a collective exhibition of the local artistic community was held in the Representative Hall of the Voivodeship Office in the Branicki Palace. Many works were collected, including: works by Józef Zimmerman and artists of the younger generation: Czesław Sadowski, Oskar Rozanecki and Ichiel Tynowicki. In March 1932 an exhibition of paintings by the Białystok Art Group "Forma-Farba-Faktura" took place. In addition to Sadowski and Tynowicki, it included Michał Duniec, Nachum Edelman and Bencjon Rabinowicz. Other famous artists were Salomon Białoóorski, Helena Malarewicz, Józef Sławicki, Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Piotr Sawicki and Alfons Karny.[3][4][5][6]

Press

As a result of the city's national, religious and political diversity pre-war Białystok had a rich press offering. In the years 1919-1939, over 100 different newspapers and magazines were published in the city. Usually, their lifespan was short - a few or a dozen editions. A few managed to survive a few months, and the exceptions were periodicals that were published continuously for several or a dozen years. Of the titles published in interwar Białystok, about 60 were in Yiddish and at least 2 in Russian.[7] In terms of the development of the Jewish press in the years 1937-1938, four Jewish dailies were published in the city at the same time, as well as weeklies and monthlies. The daily "Golos Bielostok" was particularly hated by Polish right circles. It appeared on the market in January 1919, this Russian-language newspaper edited by Józef Zeligman was an organ of the Jewish intelligentsia and entrepreneurs. It supported a plebiscite on the statehood of Białystok and the creation of a free city based on the model of Free City of Danzig. It called for a boycott of the first elections to the City Council.[8] Then it clearly declined: it became a weekly, later a biweekly. The last issue appeared in July 1920. The best edited and most stable in terms of economy was the daily Unzer Leben, published in the years 1919-1939 and was headed by Pesach Kaplan.[9][full citation needed] From November 1931, the newspaper had its own printing house at 23 Kilińskiego Street. The other Jewish papers were Bialystoker Idyszer Ownt Kurier (Białostocka Gazeta Codzienna), Die Welt (29 Sienkiewicza) and Unzer Weg. Known Jewish journalists included Abraham Zbar and Jakub Szapiro.

Polish intelligentsia circles had been planning to create a daily presenting the Polish point of view since December 1918, which at that time - in the face of approaching independence - seemed necessary. Four figures are associated with this undertaking: Konstanty Kosinski, Władysław Olszynski, Benedykt Filipowicz and Karol Tołłoczko. At the turn of January and February 1919, the Polish Society for the Promotion of Press and Reading was established. It also established contacts with Warsaw publishing houses in order to attract Polish typesetters to Białystok. The first issue of "Dziennik Białostocki" appeared on April 6, 1919. The daily sharply contradicted with the theses contained in Golos Bielostok: it condemned the attitude of the Jewish community and emphasized the Polishness of Białystok. On state holidays editions, it emphasized the official narrative in holidays-related content.[10]

Many mutations of Warsaw dailies were published in the interwar period: "Kurier Białostocki ABC", "Gazeta Białostocka - Dzień Dobry", "Ostatnie Wiadomości Białostockie". Political groups also tried to publish their own local newspapers, for example: "Białostocki Głos Codzienny" (National Workers' Party), "Białostockie Nowiny Codzienne" (National Democracy), "Robotnik Białostocki" (Polish Socialist Party), "Przegląd Kresowy" (Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government). Attempts to create a stable newspaper available in all the towns of the Białystok Voivodeship were unsuccessful. Other newspapers included "Białostocki Kurier Nowości " (17 Piłsudskiego), "Dziś" (17 Kilinskiego), "Echo Białostockie" (1 Kupiecka), "Express Białostocki" (5 Sienkiewicza), "Jutrzenka Białostocka" (49 Piłsudskiego).[11]

Cinema

In interwar Białystok, there were five cinemas, the first two of which were established in 1919. The cinemas differed in standard, repertoire and ticket prices. The intelligentsia came to Apollo (22 Sienkiewicza street), Modern (20 Piłsudskiego street) and Gryf (2 Kilińskiego street) to watch more ambitious productions in exclusive conditions, while the Polonia (18 Piłsudskiego street) and Świat attracted a less demanding audience.[12] Interwar Białystok was practically not recorded on film. No interwar feature films were made, and there was no film studio. However, in 1939, famous Jewish filmmakers, brothers Saul and Icchak Goskind, owners of the Warsaw film studio Kinor, made the only surviving film depicting life in the city at that time. It was 'Jewish Life in Białystok'.[13] The specificity of Białystok was that relatively many films with Jewish themes were shown there. As a rule, all of them turned out to be box office hits, and were watched not only by the Jewish audience.[14]

Performing arts

The city has a number of performing arts facilities including:

  • Białystok Puppet Theatre (Polish: Bialostocki Teatr Lalek), established in 1953, is one of the oldest Polish puppet theaters.[15] The facility is located at Kalinowskiego 1 in Białystok. The repertoire includes performances for both children and puppet adaptations of world literature for adults.[15] Because of the high artistic level of productions, the theater has been recognized as one of the best puppetry arts centers in Poland.[15]
  • Aleksandr Węgierki Drama Theatre in Białystok. Housed in a building designed by Jaroslaw Girina, built in the years 1933-1938.[16]
  • Podlaska Opera and Orchestra

Museums

There are a number of museums in the city including:

  • Historical Museum in Białystok (Polish: Muzeum Historyczne w Białymstoku) is part of the Podlaskie Museum.[17] The facility has a rich collection of archival materials and iconography illustrating the history of Białystok and Podlasie, and a number of middle-class cultural relics, especially in the field of craft utility.[17] There are also the Numismatic Cabinet of the collection of 16 000 coins, medals and securities.[17] The museum is in possession of the only collections in the country memorabilia connected with the Tatar settlement on the Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian region.[17]
  • Army Museum in Białystok (Polish: Muzeum Wojska w Białymstoku) was established in September 1968 as a branch of the Podlaskie Museum to house the research and collections of many people connected with military history of north-eastern Poland.[18]

Białystok, as the seat of the Voivodeship, is one of the largest cultural centers in the north-eastern Poland. It works in the Museum of the largest in the province of Podlaskie, with branches in Białystok (Historical Museum, the Museum of Sculpture Alfons Karny, Bialystok Village Museum). In Bialystok, there are also: Army Museum and the Museum of Natural History, University of Bialystok. There's also one of the best Polish contemporary art gallery - Gallery Arsenal. The second gallery is a municipal gallery to them. Sleńdzińskich, Poland has the largest collection of art and memorabilia archive Polish family of artists from Vilnius. In addition, there are 19 private art galleries here.

Białystok Cultural Center (Legionowa 5, 15-281 Białystok)[19]

The Białystok Cultural Center was established in 1975. It organize over 200 events, festivals and local activities every year. One of the most popular event is Days of Bialystok which includes big cultural events like jazz concerts, dance and theater performances, and outdoor events. Another large festival is the Days of Modern Art festival - two weeks of movie, music, photographic, comic art, animation and theater events. From over 30 propositions about 25 are organizing by our center and the rest are mostly organized by Arsenal Gallery. Twice a month people interested in other culture/nations are participating in Globetrotter's World series - a meeting with many attractions: dance workshops, original food tasting, guest from all over the world including guest from different embassies. The biggest cultural event in autumn season is Autumn with Blues.

Śródmieście Culture House (Kilińskiego 13, 15-089 Białystok)[20]

Śródmieście ("Downtown") Culture House was created by Resolution of the City of Bialystok dated. 4 February 1991. It a local cultural institution that operates as a center of art education and carries out tasks in the fields of education, cultural education, the dissemination of culture among children and adolescents and adults.

Youth Culture Club (15-201 Białystok Warszawska 79)[21]

The Youth Culture Club in Bialystok is an extra-curricular education institution. It implements a program of teaching - educational as the statute, the work plan developed by the Teachers, the suggestions of the Parent Council and Youth Council, and according to the needs of the local community. It was established in 1983. The focal point of the work with youth is the interpretation of art and replenishment activities, education, polytechnic and sports, which enables the full development of personality of a young minds.

Białystok Puppet Theatre, Kalinowskiego 1, 15-875 Białystok[22]

Sleńdzińskich Gallery (municipal institution presenting Vilnius heritage of Sleńdziński family), Waryńskiego 24A, 15-461 Białystok[23]

The Arsenał Gallerył (municipal gallery of modern art) A. Mickiewicza 2 15-232 Białystok[24]

The Army Museum, Kilińskiego 7, 15-089[25]

Libraries

In Białystok operates several libraries. The biggest of these is Podlaska Library (Polish: Książnica Podlaska) and the Białystok University Library. The elderly and the disabled free use of the Library Foundation for Education and Creativity, which offer the service "phone book" dedicated to those who are not able to reach out personally to hire. Other cultural institutions include the Białostocki Cultural Center, Orthodox Cultural Center, the Center for Esperanto. Ludwik Zamenhof, the House of Culture "Downtown", Voivodeship Center of Cultural Animation and Youth Culture

Parks and green spaces

Approximately 32% of the city is occupied by parks, squares and forest preserves which creates a unique and healthy climate.[26] The green spaces include:

  • Planty is a 14.94 ha (36.9 acres) park created between 1930–1938, under the auspices of the then Voivode Kościałkowskiego Mariana Zyndrama in the areas adjacent to Branicki Palace.[30] The modernist composition of the park was designed by Stanislav Gralla.[31]

Approximately 32% of the city is occupied by green areas. Parks and squares and 1,779 ha of forest are located within the city which creates a unique and healthy climate. Within Bialystok, there are two nature reserves with a total area of 105 ha, that are part of the Knyszyn Forest. Such a location of nature reserves in the immediate vicinity of the city is unique. Because of these advantages in 1993 as the first city of Bialystok in Poland, was admitted to the International Network of Healthy Cities project conducted by the World Health Organization.[32]

Within the town there are two nature reserves: "Las Zwierzyniecki" Nature Reserve[33] and "Antoniuk" Nature Reserve.[34]

Architecture

The various historically driven changes have had a significant influence on the architectural space of the city. Most other Polish cities have suffered similarly, but the processes in Białystok, have had a particularly intense course. Numerous historic works of architecture no longer exist, while many others have been rebuilt to their original configuration. Few of the city's historic buildings have been preserved - the sights are merely an echo of the old historical shape of Białystok.[35]

  • Bialystok City Hall
    Bialystok City Hall
  • Fountain at the Market Square
    Fountain at the Market Square
  • Old houses on Kosciusko's Market in Białystok
    Old houses on Kosciusko's Market in Białystok
  • Guest palace Branicki in Bialystok
    Guest palace Branicki in Bialystok
  • Hasbach Palace in Białystok
    Hasbach Palace in Białystok
  • Lubomirski Palace in Bialystok
    Lubomirski Palace in Bialystok
  • Citron's Palace in Białystok
    Citron's Palace in Białystok
  • Nowik's Palace in Białystok
    Nowik's Palace in Białystok
  • Kościuszko Square in Białystok
  • Pałacowa Street
    Pałacowa Street
  • Ciepła Street
    Ciepła Street
  • The papal altar at the Shrine of Divine Mercy
    The papal altar at the Shrine of Divine Mercy

Monuments

Events

A number of recurring cultural events happen every month in Białystok. The list includes, but is not limited to:

  • Presentation of nativity scenes (January)
  • Carnival - A Voivodeship Review of Dancing Companies (January)
  • Szorty - the independent film festival (February)
  • National Festival of Belarusian Song (February)
  • Białystok Music Spring (March)
  • Documentary Film Festival (March)
  • Golden Shoes Ballroom Dancing Tournament (March - April)
  • KOPYŚĆ Festival of Sailor Songs (March - April)
  • Easter Festival (Easter)
  • The International Festival of Orthodox Church Music (May)
  • Days of Contemporary Art (May - June)
  • Juvenalia Students Festival (May - June)
  • Summer Divertimento, Sunday Chamber Music (May, September)
  • Jazz Deptak, jazz concerts (May, September)
  • Days of Białystok (June)
  • Jarmark na Jana - the craft fair (June)
  • Cathedral Organ Concerts (July - August)
  • Białystok Orthodox Music Days (September)
  • The Podlaskie Trade Fairs of folk sculpture, double warp textiles and folk smithing (September)
  • European Cinema Forum (September)
  • Białystok Summer Film Festival (August)
  • Russian Culture Days (October)
  • Papal Days (October)
  • Białystok Folk Songs (September - October)
  • Festival of Ukrainian Culture - the Podlasie Autumn (October)
  • All Saints Day with the Blues (November)
  • Autumn with the Blues festival (December)
  • KRESY - Poetry reciting contest for Poles living abroad (December)
  • Quo vadis - festival of Christian art

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Białystok 2016" (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  2. ^ Oniszczuk & Wiśniewski 2011, pp. 81.
  3. ^ Warnke, Agnieszka. "Kult(ur)owy Białystok przed wojną". culture.pl. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  4. ^ Oniszczuk & Wiśniewski 2011, pp. 79–80.
  5. ^ "Getto było pełne artystów" (in Polish). Gazeta Wspolczesna. 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  6. ^ "WERNISAŻ. Czesław Sadowski, chłopak z Bojar. Celebryta swoich czasów". bia24.pl. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  7. ^ Oniszczuk & Wiśniewski 2011, pp. 76.
  8. ^ Dobroński & Szczygieł-Rogowska 2007, p. 42.
  9. ^ Fuks 1989, p. 243. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFuks1989 (help)
  10. ^ Dobroński & Szczygieł-Rogowska 2007, p. 47.
  11. ^ Oniszczuk & Wiśniewski 2011, pp. 76–77.
  12. ^ Samsel, Agata. Białystok w dwudziestoleciu międzywojennym (in Polish). pp. 234–235.
  13. ^ "film Jewish Life in Bialystok". Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  14. ^ Oniszczuk & Wiśniewski 2011, pp. 82.
  15. ^ a b c "Białystok Puppet Theater" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  16. ^ "Z sesji miejskiej. PiS przegrał z Węgierką" (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  17. ^ a b c d "Oficjalna strona Muzeum Podlaskiego" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  18. ^ "Muzeum Wojska w Białymstoku" (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-04-15.[ ]
  19. ^ "Białystok Cultural Center". Bok.bialystok.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  20. ^ "Śródmieście Culture House". Dksbialystok.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  21. ^ "Youth Culture Club". Mdk.bialystok.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  22. ^ "btl.bialystok.pl" (in Polish). btl.bialystok.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  23. ^ "slendzinski.art.pl". slendzinski.art.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  24. ^ "galeria-arsenla.pl". Galeria-arsenal.pl. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  25. ^ Białystokwww.mwb.com.pl
  26. ^ "Białystok portal miejski. Białostockie parki" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  27. ^ "Podlaski Wersal Branickich". palac.amb.edu.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  28. ^ "Widok zespołu parkowo - pałacowego z "lotu ptaka"" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  29. ^ "Zielony Białystok - Ogród Branickich" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  30. ^ "Rejestr zabytków województwa podlaskiego" (PDF) (in Polish). 2011-03-25.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ "Akcja Planty, czyli jak za dawnych lat" (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  32. ^ "Zielone Płuca Polski". Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  33. ^ "Centralny Rejestr Form Ochrony Przyrody" (in Polish).
  34. ^ "Centralny Rejestr Form Ochrony Przyrody" (in Polish).
  35. ^ "Białystok 2006-2010" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  36. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  37. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2005-12-15. Archived from the original on December 15, 2005. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  38. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-01-07. Archived from the original on January 7, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  39. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-01-12. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
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  41. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  42. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-10-20. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  43. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on July 21, 2002. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  44. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  45. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-02-16. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  46. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2005-11-18. Archived from the original on November 18, 2005. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  47. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-01-12. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
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  50. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2005-12-15. Archived from the original on December 15, 2005. Retrieved 2012-08-13. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)

Bibliography

  • Dobroński, Adam; Szczygieł-Rogowska, Jolanta (2007). Białystok. Lata 20-te, lata 30-te (in Polish). Kreator Instytut Wydawniczy. ISBN 978-83-7344-045-6.
  • Dobroński, Adam; Wiśniewski, Tomasz (2008). Białystok na starych pocztówkach. Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy. ISBN 978-83-61253-25-9.
  • Oniszczuk, Jan; Wiśniewski, Tomasz (2011). Białystok między wojnami. Opowieść o życiu miasta 1918-1939 [Białystok Between the Wars: A Story of City Life 1918-1939] (in Polish). Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy. ISBN 9788377290156.
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