Hello, it’s Azalée, on the occasion of the International Francophonie day, I had the pleasure of organizing a special evening at Klub Kultury Przegorzaly, specifically I chose March 20 for this event, to align it with the celebration of the French language and francophone cultures, while staying true to the values of the program: sharing, inclusion, and intercultural exchange.
From the very beginning, I was delighted to see such a diverse audience coming together. There were, of course, French speakers, but also many people curious to discover the French language and culture. This mix immediately created a warm, lively, and welcoming atmosphere. I made sure to address the audience in both French and English to make everyone feel included, with the option of Polish translation if needed.
I imagined this evening as a space where cultures could meet and mingle. France served as our starting point, but the event went far beyond that, offering encounters with visual arts, literature, music, foods, and storytelling.
We began by exploring the exhibition, which presented a wide variety of artistic proposals. I was thrilled to introduce the work of Sara Rodríguez, who explores a mix of ideas, cultural references, and emotions inspired by France. She then read a beautiful poem about Paris, creating an immersive opening moment.
Next, we enjoyed Ugo Stornaiolo’s autobiographical prose piece, rich with French references. The audience could either read the text or listen to it through a sound device at the back of the room, with translations available in English and Polish.
We then moved to more visual forms. Anastazja Levchenko shared her reflections from a stay in Paris, highlighting similarities between life in Kraków and Paris, a bridge between everyday experiences in two cities.
The poster by the graphic designer Ignacy Demkowicz captured the energy of Roland-Garros through custom typography and his personal tennis experiences, translating the excitement of the tournament into a vibrant visual.
Alty then shared her Erasmus experience in Poitiers (France) through a collage, where each image told a unique story from her memories. It was a direct and personal way of inviting us into her journey.
We also explored Karla Gonzalez Argueta’s drawing, inspired by a photo exchange with a friend in France. Her work invited reflection on how everyday life is perceived from a distance, blending reality and imagination.
Elisabeth Makowka presented Across Four Horizons, a series of four watercolors depicting iconic French landscapes at the cardinal points, combining geography and personal experience in a delicate way.
Finally, Diana Hurnycka shared her photography series on Brittany, capturing subtle atmospheres of solitude and quiet connections in the landscape. She allowed local inhabitants to guide her choice of locations, which made the work even more authentic and sensitive.
After this first part, I took a moment to thank the artists and highlight how their diverse perspectives had created a rich landscape of viewpoints on France.
The evening then continued with a journey to Brittany, guided by Maria Magdalena Wojtanowicz. Her presentation explored surprising connections between Brittany and Poland, using archives, stories, images, and legends. Monika Gałązka accompanied this with enchanting Breton music played on the hurdy-gurdy, adding a deeply immersive dimension to the event.
I warmly thanked everyone who made the evening possible: the artists for generously sharing their work, Maria Magdalena Wojtanowicz for her captivating presentation, Monika Gałązka for the music, and the whole team at Klub Kultury Przegorzały for their support and hospitality. I also thanked the audience, their presence, attention, and energy truly made the evening come alive! The night ended on a convivial note around a buffet of French specialties.
Through this event, I truly felt that we had created a space where languages, cultures, and experiences could meet and connect freely. For me, it was also a real opportunity to learn how to organize an event with so many different people, coordinating schedules, adapting to various constraints, taking initiative, and collaborating closely with everyone involved. It was an evening that embodied the spirit of Francophonie: open, diverse, and profoundly human.
EuropejskiKorpusSolidarności #EUSolidarityCorps #EUSolidarity #integrart #francophonie https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/young-people/solidarity-projects_frhttps://www.unesco.org/fr/days/francophonie
