Plans of the International Cultural Centre for 2026

The ICC invites you to familiarize yourself with its plans and intentions for 2026. This year will be special for our institution, as we will begin a project to modernize our headquarters. However, we will continue to carry out a number of research, publishing and educational projects. 

Our institution combines different points of view and draws on the achievements of many fields in order to share knowledge about cultural heritage in a universal, comprehensive, consistent and objective manner. In 2026, we will be changing for our audience. Despite the renovation and partial closure related to the modernization of the ICC headquarters, we will continue to carry out our activities – publishing new publications, meeting with their authors, implementing research and educational projects and expanding the resources of the ICC Library.

FEnIKS

The International Cultural Centre in Krakow has received a grant under the FEnIKS program – European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, and Environment 2021–2027, which will be used to modernize the ICC headquarters at 25 Main Market Square. The aim is to create a new space for cultural and social activities on the entire ground floor of the ICC. A bookshop, café and educational room will be created. This will make our institution more modern and open to the needs of the public.

Publications by ICC Publishing House:

• Łukasz Galusek, „Wyobrażone stolice. Miasta monarchii habsburskiej jako ośrodki narodów 1815–1918” (Polish edition) – this book shows the process of shaping an “imagined capital” as the center of a sovereign nation, not in the sense of political independence, but precisely despite its lack thereof.

• Ivan Lovrenović, „Bośnia i Hercegowina. Wewnętrzny kraj” (Polish version), translated by Dominika Kaniecka – an insightful treatise that analyzes in detail the process of shaping the religious, cultural, and political physiognomy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Laurajane Smith, “The Uses of Heritage” (Polish version), translated by Aleksandra Kamińska – a book that considers the value of heritage and shows that objects and places serve to preserve and reinforce values that are key to different nations and social groups.

• Valdur Mikita, „Leśtonia. Eseje” (Polish version), translated by Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki – a poetic collection of essays telling a story of spirituality deeply rooted in nature.

• In 2026, new issues of Herito magazine will also be published.

   

Research projects, seminars and education

The ICC is carrying out a number of ambitious research projects, including “Galician Oil” which analyzes the impact of the oil industry on Central European culture, and “Design in Central Europe 1945–1989,” which is preparing for an exhibition presenting an overview of post-war Central European design. The project “Troublesome Heritage” will also have another installment. Other projects will also be carried out, such as “Ukraine—How to Steal a Country”, “Postmodernism” and “European Heritage Hub”. 

We also organize international seminars, including those within the V4 Heritage Academy program, devoted to the management of cultural heritage sites in the Visegrad Group countries. An integral part of our educational activities is the Heritage Academy postgraduate program, which has been running since 2001. Its curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from the theory of cultural heritage protection and institutional management to promotion and tourism.

The ICC will also continue and develop its educational cycles aimed at adults, children and young people, seniors and families. These will include “Decades with Art”, “Walk with Us”, "Use Your Heritage! Lessons on Cultural Heritage for School Groups“ and ”MINI-Encounters with Art".

International Cultural Centre Library 

In 2026, the ICC Library plans to rejoin the JSTOR consortium, which will enable it to continue, with funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, to provide access to selected collections (Arts & Sciences II, III, VII) of the multidisciplinary JSTOR digital library. The Reading Room will also provide access to the Virtual Science Library databases under national licenses.

The ICC's plans and objectives for 2026 – full publication in Polish available for download in PDF format.