Students of the College of Europe in Natolin visited ICC

On September 21st, 2020, the ICC hosted students of the College of Europe in Natolin, the oldest and most prestigious university specializing in European studies. The stay in Krakow was part of a week-long study trip, the purpose of which is to reflect on the contemporary dimension of the Galician myth as a common territory of memory of Poles, Ukrainians, Austrians and Jews.

The speech by Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, the director of the ICC, who welcomed the guests, allowed to outline the wide spectrum of the institution's activities as an active participant in the international debate on culture and heritage and an animator of cultural cooperation in Central Europe.

Lecture by prof. Jacek Purchla, the founder and long-time director of the ICC, introduced the subject of Galician mythology, with particular emphasis on the paradoxes of building cultural identity in Central Europe. The topic of the contemporary perception of Galicia's heritage was continued during a joint virtual discussion panel with the participation of Dr. Emil Brix, rector of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna and prof. Yaroslav Hrytsak from the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.

The visit was also an opportunity to share the Centre's many years of achievements and experience in researching the cultural and civilization phenomenon of Galicia. In 2014 and 2015, the ICC Gallery presented the Myth of Galicia exhibition, which made it possible to confront the myth with historical facts and the perspective of the nations involved in this history. The exhibition included nearly 600 exhibits - works of art, archives and artifacts - so far not exhibited in the context of research on Galicia and its cultural heritage. More information about the exhibition can be found HERE.


Photo: Students of the College of Europe in Natolin during a lecture at the ICC.