Unzere Kroke – a multicultural Children’s Day

The Jewish Association Czulent, in collaboration with the Małopolska Voivodeship Office in Krakow, organized a multicultural Children’s Day, Unzere Kroke (in Yiddish, ‘our Krakow’).

We presented culture in a way that goes beyond stereotypes, clichés, and the folklorization of ethnicity and multiculturalism, which is currently widespread. The goal was to create an opportunity for a deeper understanding of minority cultures as an integral part of Poland’s culture and heritage.

In 2013, the workshop concepts were developed by artists known and respected both in Poland and abroad: Bogusław Barnaś (architect), Urszula Palusińska (illustrator and director), Małgorzata Mirga (visual arts), Krzysztof Gil (visual arts), and Anna Rozenfeld (Yiddish scholar). The goal of the workshops was to present the diverse Krakow from the perspective of children from different national and ethnic minorities. The children built an installation with boxes in the courtyard of the Old Synagogue. Over 70 young participants took part in the activity.

In 2014, the second edition of the workshops took place, with the concept developed by: Urszula Palusińska (illustrator and director), Małgorzata Mirga (visual arts), Krzysztof Gil (visual arts), and Anna Rozenfeld (Yiddish scholar). The children drew a large-scale, symbolic map of Małopolska in Jordan Park. On the map, they marked places related to their culture, heritage, and religion. Over 100 participants took part in the event.

Project support and cooperation

Partners

• The Voivodeship Office in Krakow.
• Jewish Religious Community in Krakow.
• Armenian Cultural Society in Krakow.
• Roma Educational Association ‘Harangos.
• Centrum Edukacyjne Chabad Lubawicz w Krakowie
• Russian Circle in Krakow.
• “Ruska Bursa” Association
• Social and Cultural Society of Jews in Poland, Krakow Branch.
• Society for the Promotion of Roma Culture and Tradition Kałe Jakha.
• Slovak Society in Poland.

The project was funded by the following sources:

• Joint Distribution Committee Polska
• U.S. Consulate General in Krakow.
• Historical Museum of Krakow.
• Embassy of Israel
• Szalom Foundation
• Social Publishing Institute Znak Ltd.
• The City Hall in Krakow
• Austeria Publishing House
• Nisza Publishing House
• BONA Publishing House