Culture

Our town has something for every kind of cultural taste, providing everybody with interesting events, which are unique in that they take place in the Tatra mountains.

 

Since the first visitors from the lowlands came, Zakopane has been a haven for the artistic elite. The Tatras have had a nurturing influence on art since the town became an enclave of freedom during the division of Poland between Russia, Prussia and Austria. Artists came here in search of creative freedom and inspiration from the beautiful mountain scenery. The distinctive Podhale art became the inspiration for great works of lasting value in literature, music and architecture. It was here that Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote „ The Teutonic Knights” (Krzyżacy), in which he used the Highland dialect, Karol Szymanowski composed the ballet „Harnasie”, and Stanisław Witkiewicz developed the Zakopane style, thanks to which Zakopane continues to charm with its wooden architecture.

 

 

Indeed the town of Giewont has kept its extraordinary artistic climate until today, expecially musically. Zakopane is a town of concerts and festivals. The Cultural panorama is already enriched by international festivals: Zakopane Jazz Spring, The Organ Music Festival, „Muzyka na Szczytach” Chamber Music Festival and the Karol Szymanowski Music Days. The most important folklore festival is the International Highland Folklore Festival – a meeting of highlanders from all over the world. Every year for the last 50 years, the Kalatówki Jazz Camp has taken place. An important musical event is the Zakopane Academy of Art, bringing the cream of performers and composers of classical music such as Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (An honorary citizen of Zakopane), Ida Haendel and Roman Totemberg. The young have their own festival in the Christian Creativity Festival „Szukałem Was…” , commemorating the visit of the Holy Father, John Paul II in 1997. That pilgrimage became the largest event in the history of the town.

 

Zakopane i salso the location of numerous painting and sculpture studios, museums and galleries, displaying different exhibitions, of such distinguished artists as Tadeusz Brzozowski, Władysław Hasior, Jerzy Duda Gracz, Jerzy Nowosielski, Marcin Rząsa and Arkadiusz Waloch. There are also workshops and studios of folk artists - Ewelina Pęksowa, Jolanty Pęksowa, Barbara Baniecka Dziadzio and Bogdan Dziadzio, Stanisław Marduła and Jan Tylka. Last, but not least, there is the one-of-its-kind Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz Theatre, founded in 1985 by a group of young actors and enthusiasts, under the direction of Andrzej Dziuk. It is hard to imagine Zakopane without the Witkacy Theatre, without its moving shows and colourful events.
A new event, but one that is more and more associated with Zakopane, is the Highland Film Meeting, an overview of the most interesting highland films from all over the world, with an accompanying competition. Since 2nd May 2009 Zakopane –together with Trento and Vancouver- is a member of an international organization of cities hosting highland film festivals.

.