About the project

Over time, despite the presence of a border, the region of Galicia, including Lviv and Przemyśl, has developed a uniquely multicultural character. However, its history of resettlements, deportations, the Iron Curtain and totalitarianism has effectively eliminated any dialogue between the local cultures. Despite this, national minorities are present in both countries – Poles in Ukraine and Ukrainians in Poland. They still cultivate their traditions, making up the cultural mosaic of the region and maintaining their national identities, even though their actions lack the exposure and promotion they need. The goal of the project is to promote the cultures of these national minorities – the Polish minority in Lviv and the Ukrainian minority in Przemyśl, by establishing minority culture centres in both cities. These will employ a systemic approach to promoting both cultures in the region. Long-term planning has been impossible in this regard so far, mainly due to insufficient funds. As a result, previous efforts have been few and short-lived, very localised and involved only small groups of people.

The culture centres will work to increase the cultural involvement of the local national minorities, change how they are perceived by the majority, and make the two regions more attractive to tourists thanks to being more recognisable as a multicultural area that is worth visiting due to its historical and cultural legacy.