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European Solidarity Centre

European Solidarity Centre is a multifunctional cultural institution combining research, education, modern museum and archive. The Centre was established in Gdansk on 8th of Novemeber 2007 by Minister of Culture, Marshall of the Pomeranian Voievodship, President of Gdansk, President of the European Solidarity Centre Foundation and Chairman of the NSZZ Solidarnosc Trade Union.

The main purpose of the European Solidarity Centre is to preserve the heritage and retain a fond memory of Solidarnosc in order to hand it down to the next generations, while stressing its relevance and universal value.
The first task, retrospective in its nature, will be realised by a modern, interactive museum demonstrating how the events in Gdansk Shipyard initiated dismantling of the communist regime in Central and Eastern Europe. There will be also a multimedia archive and library collecting all the souvenirs of Solidarnosc, which seem to be often dispersed and neglected. Together with the exhibitions - permanent as well as mobile one - ESC would strengthen awareness of modern history, which is pivotal in building European identity.

The second goal of ESC activity, the prospective one, is to hand down the heritage, ideas and notion of solidarity into the next generations. We would like to confirm that solidarity, concern about the well being and common interest, unity with the respect for diversity are still very relevant in the modern society and worth of all efforts to be enhanced. Therefore, one of the most important area of activity in this respect is education. ESC is organising workshops, seminars, lectures and debates for young people from all over Europe, for their teachers and local leaders.

We are also a cultural institution creating our own events and projects, inspiring fresh and new movement. We have already organised competition for the film scenario about solidarity, concerts and festivals. In 2007 we launched the first edition of the All About Freedom Festival, which is a film festival reviewing documentary, fiction and experimental films.

And finally, we are active in historical research and social sciences. We aim to understand and explain the notion of freedom, justice and solidarity in order to become centre of cooperation and integration sharing the heritage of solidarity and its advocacy for justice, democracy and human rights with those who are deprived of it.

http://www.ecs.gda.pl