Culture is (still) within us! “The Guide” celebrates the 10th anniversary of ESK Wrocław 2016

Just a few weeks ago we brought you the April–May issue of Wrocław Cultural Guide, and today we’re back with another edition – and a special one at that: a special issue marking the 10th anniversary of Wrocław 2016 – European Capital of Culture. Across 128 pages, we not only look back on a year of special significance for Wrocław, but also take a broader view.

At the start of this year, the #10YearsChallenge took social media by storm, with users sharing photos and stories from events that had taken place a decade earlier. For Wrocław, such a challenge is a piece of cake – photo albums from 2016 are bursting at the seams, and residents’ memories are still vivid. After all, it was exactly ten years ago that Wrocław proudly held the title of European Capital of Culture. That year was truly exceptional: filled with events, investments, celebrations, emotions, changes, and tensions. ECoC 2016 was undoubtedly a milestone in the city’s development and had a significant impact on shaping Wrocław’s contemporary identity.

In this special edition of the Wrocław Cultural Guide, we invite you to look back on that extraordinary year – but not only that. We treat ECoC 2016 as a mirror in which we can reflect, allowing us to better understand what is happening in Wrocław’s cultural scene today. And if you were not yet living in Wrocław ten years ago, or are only visiting our city now – don’t worry. We also offer a concise introduction to the European Capitals of Culture project. It may come in handy, as in three years another Polish city will assume this prestigious title. We are already following Lublin’s preparations for 2029, while also encouraging you to explore the Polish Capitals of Culture initiative.

This tenth anniversary gives us an opportunity to ask (once again) about the legacy of ECoC in Wrocław. What has changed in our city? Have we – its residents and participants in cultural life – changed as well? Did ECoC have a direct or indirect impact on this and is it even possible to determine, examine, or measure that influence? What is certainly easier to identify are the places – spaces for beauty that have remained with us and that we continue to enjoy. We present a selection of them, and we also move through all of the programme’s curatorial fields: film, literature, architecture, visual arts, theatre and performance, music and opera, to show just how vibrant Wrocław’s cultural life remains today. We also take a closer look at community engagement and educational activities, which offer many revealing insights into who we are. And without losing sight of Wrocław’s Lower Silesian context, we invite you on a journey deeper into the region, along the trail of remarkable institutions and compelling festivals. You can treat this magazine as a guide: we suggest what to see, what to hear, where to go, what to get involved in, and what not to miss.

Let us look back together on Wrocław ECoC 2016 and immerse ourselves in the city’s culture. Perhaps this will become our own #2026Challenge?