Krakow and Villa Decius
The Group Relations Conference THE ART OF REPAIR will take place in Kraków in Villa Decius.
The Historic Centre of Kraków, the former capital of Poland is mentioned on the world heritage list of UNESCO. The 13th-century merchants' town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with their magnificent interiors. Further evidence of the town's fascinating history is provided by the remnants of the 14th century fortifications and the medieval site of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues in the southern part of town, Jagiellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried.
For more information visit: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/29
Villa Decius has a rich history and tradition. Its history has been intertwined with the history of Poland and of grand families, making the Villa a witness of grandiose events, sublime times and historic transformations.
Erected in 1535, Villa Decius is one of the finest and most complete examples of a suburban Renaissance residence. Over the centuries, Villa Decius has had times of triumph and glory, but it has also been damaged and forgotten. However, it has never lost its spirit and the original intention of Justus Decius from Alsatia and his son Ludovicus Decius the Younger to make the Villa a venue of the exchange of thoughts and the haven of tolerance and freedom. Recently Villa Decius has become an arena of cultural dialogue and promotion of plurality and tolerance in the public life, paying particular attention to the rights and culture of national and ethnic minorities.
The Villa Decius Institute for Culture
The Villa Decius Institute for Culture is a cultural institution of the City of Krakow, which started its activity in 2019. The aim of the Institute is to create a unique and multidimensional space for the city's inhabitants, in which high culture - rooted in tradition and of the highest artistic craftsmanship - intertwines with a modern and open view of art, science and education.
While conducting large-scale activities in the field of promoting culture and heritage, the Villa Decius Institute for Culture cooperates with numerous institutions of art and culture from around the world, as well as with organizations and entities operating for artists, creators and scientists on a local and international scale. The Institute is active in areas related to Krakow's membership in such organizations as the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, and the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) Residential Programme, the Scholars at Risk network and the Europa Nostra network.
Intercultural Dialogue Platform
The main tasks of the Office of the Intercultural Dialogue Platform include the international popularization of scientific, documentary and creative achievements of outstanding Polish researchers, activists and authors.
An important part of its activities is the implementation of programmes aimed at developing new solutions and expanding the knowledge base in the area of cultural heritage protection, as well as developing cross-border cooperation and deepening intercultural dialogue. The IDP office organizes conferences, periodic meetings, consisting in the exchange of knowledge and good practices by international expert groups, training and educational activities for the staff of culture managers in European countries. As part of the PDM Office, the VDIC co-organizes, inter alia, the Multicultural Festival - New Krakowians; runs the Heritage Laboratory - an international educational programme in the field of heritage management; and participates in a several-year project of developing postgraduate studies in protection of cultural goods in crisis and war.
