Topics of coins
Wrocław – the European Capital of Culture
From 16 January 2016, Wrocław is officially the European
Capital of Culture alongside the Spanish city of San
Sebastian. For twelve months the capital of Lower Silesia
will be inviting everyone to various cultural events and
celebrations relating to the city’s historic heritage and
prepared specifically for this occasion.
The awarding of the title of the European Capital
of Culture is a recognition of Wrocław’s enormous
contribution to the development of European culture.
Since the Middle Ages, Wrocław has played an
important role in this part of Europe, as a melting pot
of German, Polish, Czech, Jewish, and even Walloon
cultural influences. This title is also a recognition
of Wrocław’s cultural and scientific achievements
after World War II. This is a city which was able to
rise from the rubble despite painful wartime wounds
and quickly became a focal point on the cultural map
of Poland, inspiring artists from all over Europe. All
this is thanks to the people who were mainly resettled
from other regions of Poland, including such important
academic centres as Lwów and Wilno.
Today Wrocław is an important scientific and academic
centre, a city of many colleges, which were home
to numerous scholars, including Hugo Steinhaus,
Ludwik Hirszfeld, Wincenty Styś, and Włodzimierz
Trzebiatowski.
Wrocław was particularly famous for its achievements
in drama and music. The city’s theatres include Jerzy
Grotowski’s avant-garde theatre “Teatr Laboratorium”,
Henryk Tomaszewski’s pantomime theatre and
the “Kalambur” student theatre. Since the 1960s, its
music festivals, many of which are still organized today,
such as the ”Wratislavia Cantans” festival of oratorio
and cantata music and the ”Jazz on the Odra” festival,
have become a showcase for the city. Wrocław is also
known for its achievements in cinema, primarily
associated with the Feature Film Studio. Today the city
proudly hosts the New Horizons film festival.
Wrocław has been preparing for the celebrations
of the European Capital of Culture for several years.
The artistic activities, exhibitions and cultural events
will cover all the most important fields of art. This
includes both classic art forms, such as theatre, opera,
music, literature, architecture, as well as modern art
– film, performance, and visual arts. For the purpose
of the celebrations, many new buildings have been
erected in the city, including the impressive complex
of the National Forum of Music. During this special year,
Wrocław will also host the ceremony of the European Film
Awards. The city will also enjoy the title of the World Book
Capital.
The gold coin features the architectural motif of the stairs
of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. On
the obverse, an image of the face of an ancient sculpture
– a symbol of the ancient roots of European culture – was
incorporated into this motif.
The silver coin also features the architectural motif
of the stairs of the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw. On
the reverse it is accompanied by the figure of an artist – a
performer or a dancer. The figure points to the building in
a dance gesture, encouraging us to visit. His costume
is decorated with motifs from the European Capital
of Culture graphic identification system. The graphic
symbol of the European Capital of Culture Wrocław
2016 is featured above.
dr Łukasz Koniarek PhD