Promoting Gorol folk culture across the Czech – Polish – Slovak borders

This project focuses on creating an ‘experience culture’ using typical folklore activities from the Gorol region straddling the borders of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

The project activities include:
- jointly organized exhibitions of folk art and culture in Mosty u Jablunkova and Istebna (Poland)
- displays of folk culture during the Gorol Days cycle in Mosty and the traditional festival in Istebna
- sharing of experiences among partners and folk artists at meetings and consultations with experts in Mosty and Istebna, on excursions by Czech artists to Istebna and at weekends involving artists and partners in Rožnov and Krakow, enabling them to gain important experiences
- jointly managed promotion of Gorol folk art and culture through the publication of promotional materials and books. The publication schedule includes: A leaflet on Gorol culture in Czech and English (4000 copies); the Polish version will be published as part of the partner’s project. Guidebook in Czech and Polish (4000 copies) focusing on Gorol culture and customs. Posters and calendars (1000), regional souvenirs (1000).
- jointly organized launch of a new book on lace-making, presentation of the outputs of the entire project at the Three Nations Centre, located on the Czech-Polish border in Bukovec / Jasnowice.

The project includes a regular festival cycle packed full of experiences: the Gorol Days, where visitors can try their hand at traditional crafts, sample traditional food and drink, or even make their own souvenirs. The Gorol Days consist of 13 events focusing on 6 main themes: Wool and sheep products, Wood in the lives of the Gorol people, Gorol clothing, Pottery, Gorol cookery, and Bee-keeping. All of the events feature folk artists from all three countries. Part of the Gorol Days is a series of exhibitions by folk artists from the Czech, Polish and Slovak sides of the border. The Polish partner organization – Gminny Ośrodek Kultury Istebna (Istebna Municipal Cultural Centre, or GOK) – is similar to GOTIC in its structure and role, and has many years of experience working alongside folk artists and holding successful exhibitions and folklore events. The aim of the project is to create close cooperation between GOTIC and GOK so that the Czech partner will be able to benefit from the Polish partner’s wide-ranging experience and adopt GOK’s established practice in developing and promoting Gorol culture.

Project period: June 2009 – October 2010.

The project is funded via the Microprojects Fund in the Euroregion Těšínské Slezsko - Śląsk Cieszyński as part of the Operational Programme Cross-Border Cooperation Czech Republic – Poland 2007–2013, registration no. CZ.3.22/3.3.05/09.01009. Project funding from this programme totals 12 313 EUR. Total project costs are 14 486.80 EUR.