On 30 June 2011, the Borderland Foundation and the Centre Borderland of Arts, Cultures and Nations organises the European Agora, a special event to be held under the auspices of UNESCO, connected with the Polish Presidency of the European Union and Miłosz Year. Online transmission from this event is planned according to the the programme of the event published further on.
30 June, 2011, the centennial of Czesław Miłosz’s birth. Krasnogruda will become a meeting place for the lovers of the Noble Prize Winner’s art from around the world. The event will take place on the eve of the inauguration of the Polish presidency of the EU Council. The life and thought of the author of Native Realm correspond to the challenges facing us today: “Bridging Europe” in the way that will enable the growth of the “connective tissue” (Miłosz) on the new borderlands of cultures, languages and nations.
The programme of the event
12.00
THE OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE CENTRE IN KRASNOGRUDA
The Centre will be opened by the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, in the presence of, inter alia: Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Żuchowski; Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Arūnas Gelūnas; Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Egidijus Meilūnas; and representatives of the regional authorities: the Voivod of Podlaskie Voivodship, Maciej Żywno; Vice Marshall of Podlaskie Voivodship, Cezary Cieślukowski; Chairman of the Podlaskie Voivodship Assembly, Bogdan Dyjuk; Councillor of the Podlaskie Voivodship Assembly, Waldemar Kwaterski; Starost of Sejny, Ryszard Grzybowski, and Mayor of Sejny, Jan Stanisław Kap.
The ceremony will also be attended by the poet’s son, Anthony Miłosz with his family.
Opening address: Krzysztof Czyżewski, President of Borderland Foundation and Director of the Centre “Borderland of Arts, Cultures and Nations.”
13.00
IN SEARCH OF HOMELAND: CZESŁAW MIŁOSZ’S TESTIMONY AND PROPHECIES
The opening of the exhibition at the Krasnogruda Manor House.
15.00
THE AGORA OF PHILOSOPHERS – “Hospitable Europe”
Participants: Zygmunt Bauman (Leeds), Cezary Wodziński (Ublik), Michał P. Markowski (Krakow).
17.00
THE AGORA OF POETS – “Europe’s Child”
Participants: Adam Zagajewski (Krakow), Marcelijus Martinaitis (Vilnius) and Alicja Rybałko (Vilnius). Moderator: Irena Grudzińska-Gross (New York).
21.00
THE AGORA OF ARTISTS – “Return” Oratorio
The premiere of the “Return” oratorio by Vlad Marhultz (New York) inspired by Czesław Miłosz’s poem under the same title, composed especially for the European Agora. Artists: Iwona Sobotka – soprano (Barcelona), Robert Gierlach – bass-baritone (Warsaw), David Krakauer – clarinet (New York), Orchestra Sinfonietta Cracovia, Jauna Muzika Choir (Vilnius), Radosław Labakhua Kiszewski – conductor (Warsaw). The poems by Czesław Miłosz will be recited by Andrzej Seweryn.
The entire event is transmitted online on Biweekly.pl and www.nina.gov.pl.
Local organizers: Borderland Foundation; “Borderland of Arts, Cultures, Nations” Centre; Office of the Marshal of Podlaskie Voivodship.
Local partners: Kovno University, Lituanian Literature and Folklore Institute; Institute of Grand Duchy of Lithuania; Czesław Miłosz’s Birthplace Foundation
