„Plac Grunwaldzki: archive of everyday life” is the second project we have implemented as part of the program KPO for culture around the Neighborhood Archive. Key to our work in this process was the continued development of the archive and activities related to the neighborhood's identity, the inclusion of creative people from Wrocław, and the development of new tools for the continued work of our organization.
We've been implementing the project for over eight months – from June 2025 to the end of February 2026. A lot has happened during this time: sound walks following the trail of water in Grunwald, regular meetings of a group of artists, research activities as part of a local diagnosis, and neighborhood gatherings full of conversations, emotions, and memories. At the same time, we also provided translations of content on the Ładne Historie Foundation website to make our activities more accessible in a cross-cultural environment. We combined creative work with research and development of organizational resources, strengthening the cultural offerings and sustainability. Neighborhood Archives at Grunwaldzki Square. Thanks to support from the KPO program for culture, we were able to conduct this process carefully and responsibly, leaving room for collaboration, experimentation, and building relationships around the estate, which is our favorite part of Wrocław.
READ THE ZINE THAT WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE PROJECT (IN POLISH)
READ THE LOCAL DIAGNOSIS REPORT (IN POLISH)
READ THE COLUMNS WRITTEN AS PART OF THE PROJECT (IN POLISH)
In this project, the process itself was as important as the final result. We wanted to build engagement and strengthen a sense of shared identity at Grunwaldzki Square, because it's relationships and collaboration that build the resilience of the local community. We know this neighborhood is very diverse, so we designed several parallel action paths, aimed at different groups that could engage in our activities. Simultaneously, we conducted a local assessment, primarily covering those quarters and areas of Grunwald where we had been less present in recent years due to limited resources. This allowed us to better understand the needs and expectations of residents.
Creative people
We invited artists from Wrocław to collaborate. The group met several times, working with archival materials and their own observations of everyday life in Grunwald. The result is an artistic zine and a finale organized in one of the lecture halls at the Medical University. It was also important to us to provide them with fees and a production budget – fair working conditions are part of responsible cultural activity, and as we know, artistic and cultural projects are often underfunded.
Local and supra-local community
We organized two sound walks following the trail of water in Grunwald and two intergenerational neighborhood meetings, combined with lectures and discussions. We aimed to combine identity themes with education and environmental awareness. The river surrounding the estate is an important point of reference for us, and we treat environmental topics as a natural part of conversations about the place where we live.
Equally important to us is the potential of oral histories and memories. We know that they resonate best in casual, neighborhood formats that connect people from different generations. As part of the project, we organized two such events, inviting local cafes to collaborate with us. Today, we know that this format has been a success and will undoubtedly continue in the future.
We also invited the community from outside our neighborhood to the final event. A discussion with the artists, a sound performance, and an art installation provided an opportunity to demonstrate that Grunwald is a place of living culture – even for those who hadn't previously associated it with such activities and who had satisfied their need for art in other parts of Wrocław.
Enthusiasts of the history of Grunwaldzki Square
The project also includes a space for those who want to work with local sources and deepen their knowledge of the estate's past. We organized a meeting dedicated to old address books and a pilot walk in the footsteps of Mikulicz-Radecki – a figure who has become a permanent fixture in the history of our estate. These activities were aimed at those with a more research-based interest in the history of the area and who want to explore it through tools dedicated to community archiving.
Local partnership
The project also strengthened our collaboration with our partners, which is crucial for us. From the outset, we have worked collaboratively in Grunwald, combining the resources and expertise of various institutions and organizations operating in the district. This time, we conducted a workshop for the local partnership and the Foundation team on methods and tools for local diagnosis (as well as the results of our research into the local community's needs). Three events within the project (the finale, a workshop on old address books, and a historical walk) were organized in collaboration with the Silesian Medical University in Wrocław and the Center for Medical Discoveries.
The developed meeting formats, the diagnostic report, the experience of working with creative individuals, and the strengthened partnerships remain with us as real tools for further action. We want to continue building engagement around Grunwald in a mindful and tailored way for various groups, so that everyone can find a space for themselves here.
We want Plac Grunwaldzki to be increasingly perceived as a neighborhood with a strong identity and rich history, where culture is created close to the people. First, by those who live, study, and work here, and eventually by residents of Wrocław as a whole. We believe that this is how, step by step, through relationships and shared activities, a place's lasting presence on the city map is built.
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (NextGenerationEU) as part of the National Recovery Plan. #KPOdlaKultury
