Encouraging arts in schools top of cultural agenda
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
20.01.2014 10:20
Poland's culture ministry has said that more arts classes in schools and encouraging Poles to read more books are top of its agenda for 2014.
Culture minister Bogdan Zdrojewski with deputy PM Elżbieta Bieńkowska announcing government's culture agenda, Friday: photo - PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Culture minister Bogdan Zdrojewski said that priorities for 2014 include the launch of a national book-reading programme and an educational reform under which music and arts classes will cover almost 4 million schoolchildren in the 6 to 19 age bracket.
Several major cultural projects are also to be completed in Poland this year, the minister said on Friday.
These include the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk, the Shakespearean Theatre in Gdansk and the concert hall for the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice.
Unveiling the plans for 2014, Minister Zdrojewski said that the opening of the hall, one of the most modern and beautiful facility of its kind in Europe, will take place on 1 October, the International Music Day, and will be a major event, with the world-famous pianist Krystian Zimerman appearing as the soloist in the premiere of a piano concerto by the Polish composer Eugeniusz Knapik.
Zimerman, who was born in the Silesian town of Zabrze and attended the Music Academy in Katowice, often talks of Silesia as his homeland. He’s been living in Switzerland for many years. (mk/pg)