Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.

Young Artists in Toruń Showcase Texas Through Art

12 awards and the same number of distinctions were awarded in the “Ale Texas” art competition.

In the competition organized by the Gallery and Center for Children's Artistic Creativity in Toruń, over 800 young artists from all over the province took part. They represented primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, community centers, art studios, etc. The task of the young people was to present the spirit of the American state of Texas, associated primarily with westerns, cowboys, adventures and ascetic nature.

On June 4, 2025, the final gala of the competition took place at the Marshal's Office, attended by, among others, the Marshal of the Voivodeship Piotr Całbecki, the President of Toruń Paweł Gulewski and special guests, Prof. Jim Mazurkiewicz, who has been actively working to promote our region in the USA and develop cooperation with partners from Texas, and Major Vinny Powierski, representative of the 4th Battalion of the 1st United States Artillery Regiment.

The competition jury decided to award 12 works and distinguish the same number. Four special awards were granted by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and four by the US Army in Toruń. Both creativity and high artistic level of young artists who presented their own vision of Texas culture, traditions and customs were awarded.

During the gala, a post-competition exhibition was opened with the awarded and distinguished works, which will be available for viewing at the Marshal’s Office until August 7, 2025.

Toruń Installs Outdoor Piano to Activate Cultural Space

From June 3, 2025, at Plac 4 Czerwca in Toruń, residents and tourists will be able to use a unique outdoor piano – a durable, publicly available instrument that will become the heart of the new urban cultural zone.

“The piano was installed yesterday, today it was powered up and is fully operational. My colleagues and I watched as people passing by sat down and started playing,” said, Paweł Gulewski mayor of Toruń. “We are thinking about making the public space in Toruń as attractive as possible. The city stands for culture, places emphasis on culture, has a music school, the seat of the Toruń Symphony Orchestra is also nearby, we have full aspirations and opportunities to call ourselves a city of high culture. Such a piano fits perfectly into our way of thinking about Toruń. The piano is available all year round. We cordially invite the residents of Toruń to use the instrument and listen to the planned concerts.”

The project was created with the idea of ​​developing the cultural life of Toruń, activating public spaces and integrating the local community through access to music and art. The installation of the outdoor piano and related events is an invitation to co-create culture and discover music in an open, friendly space. The project implemented together with the Polish Energy Group - Patron of Culture is an example of a responsible partnership that enables the implementation of initiatives important for the local community and the common good.

The official opening of the instrument, with the participation of the Mayor of Toruń Paweł Gulewski, will take place on June 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The StreetPiano & Beats concert will begin the summer series of performances at the outdoor piano. The star of the event will be the three-time world DJ champion Steve Nash, who will present PROJECT PIANO - a modern showcase combining the sounds of the piano with electronics. The program of the concert inaugurating the project will also include well-known songs performed by excellent vocal-piano duos from Toruń - Joanna Czajkowska & Bogdan Hołownia and Jan Gembala & Joanna Kaczmarkiewicz.

Plac 4 Czerwca will be transformed into an outdoor stage with a piano – on July 27, August 1, August 29 and September 13, surrounded by urban architecture, greenery and evening light, you will be able to hear the greatest hits performed by famous Toruń musicians. Each concert is a different story told with sounds – intimate, without barriers, close to people. Free admission to all events.

The installed instrument is a specially designed outdoor piano, made of durable and weather-resistant materials. Thanks to the construction and protections used, it will be possible to use it at any time of day, regardless of the weather, everyone can play it, regardless of age or skills. It is an open space - both for professional musicians and for random passers-by who want to express themselves through music.

Please use the piano for its intended purpose. The sound in the piano will be turned off at night between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Bolesławiec to Host Summer Run Between the Bridges and Beyond

The Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre in Bolesławiec invites you to take part in the "Summer Run between the Bridges and Beyond", an event organized as part of the Four Seasons - Run with MOSiR Bolesławiec series.

The races will take place on the premises of OWR "Leśny Potok" and its vicinity.

We start at 10:00 a.m., on June 7, .2025, the race office will be open from 9:00 p.m.

We invite all fans of walking with poles to the Bolesławiec market square (near the Civil Registry Office), to join us at 10:30 a.m., where we will set off towards OWR "Leśny Potok".

Participants will enjoy great fun, a commemorative medal, pea soup, a prize draw, etc.

Program:

– 10:00 a.m. – Opening of the event

– 10:10 a.m. – Dwarf run approx. 150 m

– 10:20 a.m. – Races for children and youth over long distances

cat. I approx. 420 m

cat. II approx. 850 m,

cat. III approx. 1300 m

– 10:30 a.m. – Nordic Walking (start at the market square) approx. 2500 m

– 11:00 a.m. – MAIN RACE approx. 6000 m

Participation in the race is free of charge.

Applications only on application forms – available at the Organising Office:

BPW ORKA in Bolesławiec or from the websitehttp://www.mosir.boleslawiec.pl – should be sent by e-mail to the following address:zawody@mosir.boleslawiec.plor submit in person to the Organizational Office (BPW "Orka") by June 6, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE! The parking lot at OWR "Leśny Potok" will be closed from 10:50 a.m. until the end of the main race (around 12:00 p.m.)

Bolesławiec Unveils Modernized Stadium with Concert and Sports Show

As part of the ceremony, a unique concert by the Kombi Łosowski band with laser illumination is planned, as well as a show by athletes and football players presenting the capabilities of the restored facility.

There are future investments ahead of us, such as the delivery of athletics equipment and the construction of a deep well, which will ensure full comfort and functionality of the facility. The modernization of the athletics pitch with the track will enable the organization of official competitions under the auspices of the Polish Athletics Association. The new, 400-meter, six-lane track with eight straight lanes will become an arena for the best athletes. The stadium has been equipped with two high jump jumps, two long jump and triple jump jumps, a pole vault jump, as well as javelin, discus, hammer and shot-put throwing areas. The water ditch will allow for obstacle races.

By the time of opening, the pitch will be fully ready. At the stadium, the key role is played by the proper rooting of the grass and its proper care. A well-rooted surface ensures stability, safety and optimal conditions for training and games. The natural pitch surface measuring 64x100 m, adapted for football games at the level of the third league of the Polish Football Association, will be ready for use.

The comfort of players and referees is ensured by reserve shelters, a referee tower and modern lighting, which complement the entire investment.

It is worth emphasizing that the modernization of the stadium was carried out by the company TAMEX OBIEKTY SPORTOWE from Warsaw, as part of a project worth PLN 36,460,261, of which PLN 25,060,361 comes from the budget of the city of Bolesławiec, and the remaining funds from the Polish Deal Government Fund, the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Marshal's Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Żagań POW Camps Museum Honored for Leadership in Cultural Memory

In 2024, the Museum of POW Camps in Żagań co-organized the "Congress of POW Memorial Sites: Heritage and Strategies for the Future", which won a distinction in the Event of the Year 2024 category in the Acts of Leadership Award competition organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences in Warsaw at SWPS University.

SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw was founded in 1996 as the University of Social Psychology.

During the congress in Warsaw, Marek Łazarz, director of the POW Camps Museum in Żagań, spoke among other things about "Prisoners of War on the Small and Big Screen".

The Congress was a success. It won a distinction in the "Event of the Year 2024" category in the Acts of Leadership Award competition, organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences in Warsaw at SWPS University.

The award ceremony will take place during the Final Gala of the 6th edition of the competition, which is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at the SWPS University.

- We are very happy with the distinction - says Marek Łazarz.

Acts of Leadership Award is a Polish award given to young people, teams and organizations for their positive impact on society through social, educational, creative, intercultural, technological or business initiatives. It is organized by the student clubs Leadership LAB and BIZ at SWPS University in Warsaw. The award aims to celebrate and promote good examples of leadership and innovation.

The Museum of Prisoner of War Camps will be available to visit soon as part of the Great Sightseeing of Żagań, on 28 June 2025. For a single ticket for PLN 30, it will be possible to visit five selected places with guides, proposed:

  • Museum of Prisoner of War Camps
  • Railway station
  • Saganum Vineyard
  • Church of the Holy Cross
  • The Prince's Palace
  • The Monastery Complex
  • Observation tower
  • Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher
  • Black Division Tradition Hall
Busy Weekend of Events Planned in Żagań and Surrounding Area

The weekend of June 7-8 in Żagań and the surrounding area is expected to be rainy, but warm, with temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius. Even more reason to go to events, of which there will be no shortage in the area.

Friday, June 6, 2025 in Żagań

  • 70th anniversary of Primary School No. 4 in the Kolonia Laski housing estate. The event starts at 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., family festival.
  • The artistic group of the University of the Third Age, gathered at the Żagań Palace of Culture, invites you to an opening of an exhibition of art works in the Imperial Hall of the ŻPK at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 7, 2025 in Żagań

  • 9:00 a.m., running group invites to parkrun on a distance of 5 km in Żagań park. Strat in the moat under the palace.
  • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., health and safety picnic in the summer chill zone at ul. Rybacka 39. The program includes demonstrations by services, stands of municipal companies, preventive and educational stands, grilled sausages.

From 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., an extraordinary concert will take place in the church at Klasztorny Square in Żagań. This is a graduation concert, or defense of the master's thesis of organist Wojciech Kuna and another student, Miłosz Mokrzycki.