Photo: Jewish Culture Festival
“Twenty-five years ago, when I started to organise this festival, I didn't plan,” said co-founder and director of the festival Janusz Makuch, in an interview with Polish Radio's English Section correspondent Nick Hodge.
“I didn't assume that it would become one of the most crucial Polish-Jewish cultural events in Poland, Europe and the world.”
Makuch describes the festival as “a bridge of reconciliation between Poles and Jews.”
Image: Jewish Culture Festival
As always, the event is focused on the district of Kazimierz, which was for centuries the hub of Krakow's Jewish community.
“When I came to Krakow in 1980, Kazimierz was completely abandoned. It was sad, it was empty – without almost any sign of Jewish life,” he reflected.
“Now we have all these people, all these institutions who create this beautiful cultural Jewish landscape in Kazimierz.
This year, the festival spans 227 events, taking in concerts, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, guided tours and more.
Some 154 artists from across the world are taking part, taking in 62 from Israel, 52 from Poland, 25 from the US, as well as guests from such diverse locations as Mexico, Hungary, Australia, Romania and the UK.
The event lasts for ten days, ending on 7 July. For more information on what's happening, the official web site has details on all the events.