The Art of Walking. See the city in a new light!

We’re launching a new project that combines the experiences of our two long-standing initiatives and opens a new chapter in urban engagement. The Art of Walking is based on practices developed during the two editions of the Neighborhood Walks School and complements them with the perspective of grassroots artistic activities featured in the four editions of The Art of Neighborhood. 

The Art of Walking – city as a creative space is a proposal for a comprehensive process that will begin in May and end in October: from drawing inspiration and acquiring knowledge, through working on one’s own ideas, to the realization of original walks within the city. We view walks as a tool for exploring, narrating, and co-creating the city. It is a way to build relationships, discover local histories, and strengthen agency in one’s closest surroundings. This year, we are focusing particularly on the creative and artistic potential of walks and their role in social initiatives.

The project is aimed at people who want to take action locally – cultural animators, educators, community leaders, as well as all residents of Wrocław interested in their neighborhood.

The School of Neighborhood Walks… for the third time

The central element of the project is a series of workshops based on the experiences of the School of Neighborhood Walks, an educational program that prepares our participants to independent designing and leading walks. 

The workshops, which will take place over four thematic weekend blocks at the end of June and beginning of July, will offer an opportunity to explore local histories and neighborly relationships, discover different ways of experiencing urban space, and develop creative and social skills. Participants will also learn how to talk about places and create their own walking tour concepts.

The series of events will be complemented by study visits, open lectures, and a meet-the-author event, and throughout the program, participants will work on their own walking tours under the guidance of experts.

Neighborhood Walks School: in an artistic neighborhood
→ course program, enrollment details, and application form

Exploring Wrocław’s neighborhoods, it’s time to walk

When the training part ends, it will be time for practice. For three months following the workshops, we will provide organizational and substantive support for the implementation of the walks. In July, participants will begin organizing their own neighborhood walks, which will be based on the skills they’ve acquired and their own experiences. Open registration will be available for Wrocław residents, and participation in the walks will be free.

This is the stage of going out into the city and meeting the public. We want diversity during the walks – ranging from stories about the history of neighborhoods, through performative activities or visits to local studios, to experimental ways of exploring space. The common thread will be mindfulness of the place, relationships, and artistic potential.

Localy about culture: Art of the Neighborhood for the fifth time

The Art of Walking project will open the Forum of grassroots local initiatives Art of the Neighborhood, which we are organizing for the fifth time. This year, the event will take place not in the fall, but in the spring – on May 23!

This is a nationwide gathering where people active locally and outside the cultural mainstream share their experiences, working methods, and often the challenges they face. As usual, we’ll hear from representatives of collectives from all over Poland. The forum is open to the public and serves as a space for discussing grassroots artistic initiatives and their impact on social life. To participate, simply fill out the audience registration form.

For those participating in the Neighborhood Walks School training series, the May Forum will introduce a perspective of artistic work in local spaces – mindful, relational, and rooted in specific places – into the design of future walks. It is with this meeting that we begin our collective thinking about the city as a creative space.

Art of the Neighborhood 2026. Forum of Local Cultural Activities
→ program and registration for the public

The Finale of the Art of Walking: project outcomes

The project will culminate in an autumn wrap-up at Barbara. We will gather with program participants and those interested in carrying out activities close to the city’s residents. This is a moment to revisit the completed activities, share experiences, and examine the various forms we developed during the project. The meeting will be an opportunity to present original walks, discuss the process of their creation, and reflect on how walking can function as a tool for cultural and social activities. Registration for the public will open at the end of summer.

One of the most important, lasting outcomes of the project will be an educational publication summarizing the entire process of the Art of Walking. In it, we will compile the participants’ experiences, describe the methods used, and showcase various approaches to working with walking as a form of activity. The publication will serve as a practical guide – tool that individuals and institutions interested in cultural animation in local spaces can use, even long after the project has ended.

Accessibility

It is very important to take accessibility principles into account when implementing the project. We ensure that activities are as open as possible to people with diverse needs—including people with disabilities and neurodiverse individuals. The program includes themes related to inclusive walk design and diverse ways of experiencing space, and we adapt the organization of events to the needs of participants. You will be able to indicate any special needs on the registration forms so that we can best prepare the conditions for your participation.