Bielsko-Biała (Poland) Weaving Wellbeing Polish Capital of Culture 2026

From the beginning of 2024, Chris had the great pleasure of working with Bielsko-Biała ESK 2029 as an expert on cultural programming. He worked from the grassroots up using an approach developed over many years participating at the highest level in various European Capitals of Culture including Wrocław 2016 (Poland), Plovdiv 2019 (Bulgaria) Galway 2020 (ireland), Kaunas 2022 (Lithuania) and Elefsina 2023 (Greece). 

Chris’s approach centres upon ‘the cultural clinic’ - in which local artists, communities, cultural institutions, municipalities and other players work systematically to define, structure and articulate their own projects which would contribute towards the realisation of a Capital of Culture. More about this approach can be found here. 

Bielsko-Biała's project, Weaving Wellbeing, was an ambitious and forward-looking bid, weaving the concept of wellbeing into urban design, architectural practices, child development, environmental care, the welcoming of refugees and many more aspects of contemporary life. It's good for the city but also Poland and Europe. So it is wonderful that Bielsko-Biała will be Polish Capital of Culture 2026 - thus able to implement many of the key initiatives developed over the last two years.

Energy never disappears but simply reforms in new manifestations! A huge congratulations to everyone in the the Bilesko-Biała team. 

Lublin was awarded the title European Capital of Culture 2029 - Lublin 2029. A huge congratulations to the whole team and to the other two final-round candidate cities: Katowice GZM will be Polish Capital of Culture in 2027 and Kołobrzeg in 2028.