Łódź of Many Cultures | Intergenerational Picnic

Urgent are your matters/important are your plans/but remember/that we are waiting here! – sing Tęgie Chłopy, and 55 years after the moon landing, right after the holidays, we invite you to meet with a slightly different “Rocket”!

We are launching the program of the Łódź of Many Cultures Small Festival, which includes events aimed at families, children, and their close adults.

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, we invite you to another Picnic announcing the Łódź of Many Cultures Festival (formerly the Łódź of Four Cultures Festival). We meet on the former date of this Festival, when we were looking at the “four cultures.” This time we are creating a space to spend time together in the Survivors’ Park – we propose meetings with culture created with children in mind.

MAIN STAGE

15:00-18:00 DJ FAGOT / Free entry

DJ FAGOT (Grzegorz Fajngold) – co-founder and composer of such Łódź bands as 19 Wiosen, Już Nie Żyjesz, Demolka, Procesor Plus, Salvezza. For more than 20 years he has also been a DJ in Polish and foreign clubs, playing theme parties from foxtrot, disco, punk to electro and pop music. For the past year he has also been the owner of the Muzeum Mundurów Policyjnych in Łódź, which houses a collection of over 160 uniforms.

18.00 “Rakieta!” – concert of the band Tęgie Chłopy / Free entry

YURT STORIES

15.00 “LALA. THE STORY OF A MIRACLE” – storytelling / translation into Polish Sign Language / (7+) / Registration required

A story based on the autobiography of Holocaust survivor Roman Kent “Courage Was My Only Option” (The Marek Edelman Dialogue Center Library, Łódź, 2020) and the children’s book “My Dog Lala” by the same author. The story of an unusual friendship between a boy and a dog in difficult times came to Beata Frankowska thanks to Marian Turski, Roman Kent’s friend from school and the ghetto in Łódź. According to the author, “it is a story about children and their beloved dog, but above all … in the sense of the child I was, Lala’s story is the story of a miracle”. Through the power of the story, we are transported back to pre-war Łódź and experience little adventures with Romek, his siblings and Lala. And when the hard times of war come, it is Lala who teaches little Romek about true love and gives him hope and the strength to survive.

That is why, although so many years have passed since those events, Lala’s story lives on in the family memory of Roman Kent’s children and grandchildren. Listen to it so that it may find its way into your hearts too, bringing the emotion and strength we all need. The story is accompanied by music and songs in Hebrew and Yiddish.

• Script and story: Beata Frankowska
• Music (accordion and singing): Robert Lipka

Limited number of participants. Registration at the indicated link: https://forms.gle/5kzJ5hfFJhNHoY3w7

17.00 LIKE WATER, TALES AND STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF THE ROMA – lively radio play /storytelling / translation into Polish Sign Language / (5+) / Registration required

Stories and tales – Roma and about the Roma. About why they scattered like birds across the world and how they began their long wanderings. About a land where no one danced or sang. About a girl who could speak with birds. About the origin of the violin…. We invite you to join us on a journey from the deserts of Rajasthan, through the Balkans to the woodland paths of Poland. We will do magic, sing, dance and even create a real Orkiestra Paszczowa!

Artists:

• Katarzyna Jackowska-Enemuo – the author of the story, singing, accordion, percussion
• Matthew Shemraj: oud, cymbals, rubab, telenka
• Olena Yeremenko: violin, singing

Limited number of participants. Registration at the indicated link: https://forms.gle/5kzJ5hfFJhNHoY3w7

WORKSHOPS

15:00-18:00 CIRCUS ANIMATION / Free entry

The EDUARDO Circus Academy invites you to attend shows, workshops and circus animations where you can try your hand at circus disciplines such as juggling, walking on stilts, balancing on a beam and manipulating various circus props (plates, hoops, mace, diabolo, flowerstick). There will be zones around the academy: soap bubbles, where everyone can try to make small, large and giant bubbles, a toddler zone with coloured sticks, a large outdoor Jenga, dominoes. We will be accompanied by a stilt walker, a huge, colourful figure that will be visible from afar, inviting you to competitions and animations.

15:00-18:00 NON-PLAYGROUND – workshop on play space design / Free entry

What happens when you get a group of committed people together, write down their ideas and give them to an architect to turn into an architectural design? In other words, what will the Survivors Park play area look like? You will find out at the picnic in September. At the workshop we will present the concept for the Non-playground. There will be an opportunity to discuss the chosen solutions and give your comments. The project will be presented in a way that children can understand and the discussion will take the form of a game, so all families are welcome.

15:00-18:00 wiATRAKCJE – pinwheel workshop / Free entry

During the workshop we will make colourful pinwheels, once popular folk toys that will delight the little ones and remind adults of carefree childhood. It will be a beautiful part of the picnic!

15:00-16:00 “Romano Kheliben” – Roma dance workshop / (+10) / Registration required

We would like to invite you to the Roma dance workshop “Romano Kheliben”, which will be led by Samira and Rita Sorochinska – cultural assistants from Ukraine of Roma origin, employees of the Foundation Towards Dialogue. The workshop will begin with a lecture by Rajmund Siwak, who will introduce the history and importance of dance in Roma culture. You will learn how dance functions as a story about life, longings and joys, reflected in the rhythms that flow from the heart. Dance is not just movement to the beat of music – it is a language that expresses emotions, tells stories and connects people across cultural boundaries. Come and experience the richness of this extraordinary tradition and learn how to express yourself through dance!

Registration required! If you are interested, please register at the following link: https://forms.gle/5TxVSGEoqH5W1t3CA

16.00-17.00 DRUMMING WORKSHOPS / (+8) / Registration required

Playing authentic African drums is great fun and can help people discover hidden talents, relax and learn to push their own boundaries. Drums are the simplest and most natural tool for personal contact with music. The rhythmic beating of the hand on the trembling membrane of natural leather, in a concentrated circle of positively tuned people, awakens extraordinary emotions and unleashes enormous power in every person, from the youngest to the most mature.

During the workshops, the children actively participate in making music together. Music and movement games, singing songs, dancing, interactive stories and playing instruments together are the basis of each meeting with children. The formula of the workshop (groups of up to 25 people) allows each child to be given their own instrument and to be personally involved in playing together.

Leading: Małgorzata and Bartosz Gułaj

Registration required! If you are interested, please register at the following link: https://forms.gle/5TxVSGEoqH5W1t3CA

17.00 PHYSICAL CULTURE – Workshop with Tao Yin / Free entry

Tao Yin – the way in, a practice of movement and breathing that originated in China over 3,000 years ago. It is believed to be the basis for the martial arts Tai Chi and Kung Fu, which evolved from it. It consists of gymnastics and breathing exercises and is suitable for people of all ages. After a short warm-up, we move on to smooth, gentle movements combined with breathing that calm the mind and harmonise the whole body. The essence of these exercises is to collect, replenish and improve the flow of qi energy in the body. Among the many benefits of practising Tao Yin are strengthening the immune system, increasing vitality and restoring inner peace.

Leading: Anna Osmulska Holistycznie

OTHER EVENTS

15.00-19.00 Educational Action of the STOWARZYSZENIE DIALOGU MŁODZIEŻY

Check out what we are doing – an educational action by the Stowarzyszenie Dialogu Młodzieży.

A stand of a Łódź-based non-governmental organisation founded by teenagers. Together they work for the benefit of young people, promoting dialogue, cooperation and active participation of young people in social, political and cultural life. The association is a co-organiser of Oxford debates, which will be included in the programme of the Łódź of Many Cultures Festival. During the picnic meetings, you can listen to what teenagers have to say, how they want to speak out and how they see change (including generational change)

15.00-19.00 ZACZYTANA ŁÓDKA – children’s bookshop stand

The Zaczytana Łódka bookshop is a true kingdom of imagination and creativity! In addition to a wide range of books, both classic fairy tales and the latest titles, it regularly organises creative workshops with books. This time you will meet them at the Intergenerational Picnic in Survivors’ Park. Set sail with the Zaczytana Łódka for an unforgettable adventure.

16.00-17.00 MEETING WITH DOROTA COMBRZYŃSKA-NOGALA – THE AUTHOR OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN – at the Zaczytana Łódka stand.

Dorota Combrzyńska-Nogala is a Polish language teacher from Łódź, surdopedagogue and author of books of fiction: “Naszyjnik z Madrytu” – awarded with the Literacka Nagroda im. Władysława Reymonta “Piątej z kwartetu” and “Wytwórnia Wód Gazowanych”.

Her children’s book “Bezsenność Jutki” won the Book Friendly to Children Award and a commendation in the IBBY Book of the Year 2012 competition, while “Syberyjskie przygody Chmurki” won commendations in the Kornel Makuszyński Literary Award competition and the Book Friendly to Children Award. The novel “Możesz wybrać, kogo chcesz pożreć” was included in the list of treasures of the Museum of Children’s Books. In 2023, she received a literary award for her book “Odysejki” in the competition “Book of the Year 2023” of the Polish Section of IBBY!

– 15:30 DIAGNOSTIC WALK ON WOJSKA POLSKIEGO STREET / Free entry gathering at the statue of Abram Koplowicz (in front of the main entrance to the Dialogue Centre)

Społeczni Opiekunowie Drzew invite you to a diagnostic walk along Wojska Polskiego Street. Want to speak up, appreciate or suggest how to do things differently? Join the active walkers. It can be a sign of caring. And hope… As part of the “Zieleń w procesie rewitalizacji Łodzi” project, you can take part in the co-creation of the social report.

During the walk we will look together at the trees, green spaces and biologically active areas to see what changes the redevelopment between 2022 and 2024 has brought to the green spaces. We will try to diagnose whether there has been an improvement or deterioration in the form and condition of the green (low and high). We will tell you during the walk what data we have already collected and we will also ask you to tell us what you know about changes to the green that have taken place in the diagnosed area since 2016. We will carefully record and check each of your observations. We will present the collected data in the form of a community report in late spring 2025. This task is financed as part of the implementation of the Government Programme for the Development of Civic Organisations (PROO-3) with funds from the National Freedom Institute – Centre for Civil Society Development. Thank you very much!

Leading: Justyna Makulec, Szymon Iwanowski (Mapa Drzew Łodzi, Stowarzyszenie Społeczni Zaangażowani)

17.30 VERNISSAGE EXHIBITION ‘OBIEKTYWNIE’ / Free entry

During the picnic, an exhibition of works by participants in the creative photography project for young people “OBIEKTYWNIE” will be opened. The project, which has been running since July this year, aims to stimulate curiosity about the world and develop creativity among young people from Łódź! The vernissage is all the more unusual as the works are created by an international group of young people! You will be able to admire photographs that show Łódź in a new way.

The workshop and the whole process of creating photographic works was led by Yulia Aurelia – photographer, organiser of integration projects, author of 5 photo exhibitions in Łódź, co-author of an inspiring and educational photo blog. Yulia is also a member of the Łódź Multicultural Centre (a project of the Centrum Służby Rodzinie and the Fundacja Koper Pomaga), which aims to promote the integration of foreigners into the local community, while showing the beauty of Łódź!

15:00-19:00. GASTRO ZONE:

• FILIŻANA CAFFE // KAWIARNIA – coffees, cakes, tea, sweets
• WEGETARIAŃSKIE FRYTKI I HAMBURGERY (VEGETARIAN FRIES AND BURGERS)
• BISTRO CENTRUM SŁUŻBY RODZINIE – delicious home-cooked dinners
• RoWeLove – a stand with delicious artisanal natural ice cream