Białystok is one of the largest cultural centers in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The attractions include performing arts groups, art museums, historical museums, walking tours of architectural / cultural aspects and a wide variety of parks and green spaces. Białystok in 2010 was on the short-list, but ultimately lost the competition, to become a finalist for European Capital of Culture in 2016.[1]
The city has a number of performing arts facilities including:
Puppet Theatre With Białostockiemu and Department of Puppetry Art Theatre Academy in Warsaw has been called Białystok Polish puppetry arts center. In addition to the BTL-u, there are also the Wegierko Drama Theatre as well as several private theaters (including the Suprasla Wierszalin Theatre and Theatre K3 from Bialystok). The city also has a philharmonic. City Marshal's Office along with the planned construction of the European Centre for Music and Art, which shall consist of are: Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, an extensive puppetry and cinema.
There are a number of museums in the city including:
Białystok, as the seat of the Voivodeship, is one of the largest cultural centers in the north-eastern Poland. It works in the Museum of the largest in the province of Podlaskie, with branches in Białystok (Historical Museum, the Museum of Sculpture Alfons Karny, Bialystok Village Museum). In Bialystok, there are also: Army Museum and the Museum of Natural History, University of Bialystok. There 's also one of the best Polish contemporary art gallery - Gallery Arsenal. The second gallery is a municipal gallery to them. Sleńdzińskich, Poland has the largest collection of art and memorabilia archive Polish family of artists from Vilnius. In addition, working here 19 private art galleries.
Białystok Cultural Center (Legionowa 5, 15-281 Białystok)[6]
The Białystok Cultural Center was established in 1975. It organize over 200 events, festivals and local activities every year. One of the most popular event is Days of Bialystok which includes big cultural events like jazz concerts, dance & theater performances, and outdoor events. Another large festival is the Days of Modern Art festival - 2 weeks of movie, music, photographic, comic art, animation and theater events. From over 30 propositions about 25 are organizing by our center and the rest are mostly organized by Arsenal Gallery. Twice a month people interested in other culture/nations are participating in Globetrotter's World series - a meeting with lots of attractions: dance workshops, original food tasting, guest from all over the world including guest from different embassies. The biggest cultural event in autumn season is Autumn with Blues.
Śródmieście Culture House (Kilińskiego 13, 15-089 Białystok)[7]
Śródmieście ("Downtown") Culture House was created by Resolution of the City of Bialystok dated. 4 February 1991. It a local cultural institution that operates as a center of art education and carries out tasks in the fields of education, cultural education, the dissemination of culture among children and adolescents and adults.
Youth Culture Club (15-201 Białystok Warszawska 79)[8]
The Youth Culture Club in Bialystok is an extra-curricular education institution. It implements a program of teaching - educational as the statute, the work plan developed by the Teachers, the suggestions of the Parent Council and Youth Council, and according to the needs of the local community. It was established in 1983. The focal point of the work with youth is the interpretation of art and replenishment activities, education, polytechnic and sports, which enables the full development of personality of a young minds.
Białystok Puppet Theatre, Kalinowskiego 1, 15-875 Białystok[9]
Sleńdzińskich Gallery (municipal institution presenting Vilnius heritage of Sleńdziński family), Waryńskiego 24A, 15-461 Białystok[10]
The Arsenał Gallerył (municipal gallery of modern art) A. Mickiewicza 2 15-232 Białystok[11]
The Army Museum, Kilińskiego 7, 15-089[12]
In Białystok operates several libraries. The biggest of these is Książnica Podlaska and the Białystok University Library. The elderly and the disabled free use of the Library Foundation for Education and Creativity, which offer the service "phone book" dedicated to those who are not able to reach out personally to hire. Other cultural institutions include the Białostocki Cultural Center, Orthodox Cultural Center, the Center for Esperanto. Ludwik Zamenhof, the House of Culture "Downtown", Voivodeship Center of Cultural Animation and Youth Culture
Approximately 32% of the city is occupied by parks, squares and forest preserves which creates a unique and healthy climate.[13] The green spaces include:
Approximately 32% of the city is occupied by green areas. Parks and squares and 1,779 ha of forest are located within the city which creates a unique and healthy climate. Within Bialystok, there are two nature reserves with a total area of 105 ha, that are part of the Knyszyn Forest. Such a location of nature reserves in the immediate vicinity of the city is unique. Because of these advantages in 1993 as the first city of Bialystok in Poland, was admitted to the International Network of Healthy Cities project conducted by the World Health Organization.[19]
Within the town there are three nature reserves; Zwierzyniecki Forest Nature Reserve, Reserve Antoniuk, Swamp Nature Reserve
The various historically driven changes have had a very significant influence on the architectural space of the city. Most other Polish cities have suffered similarly, but the processes in Białystok, have had a particularly intense course. Numerous historic works of architecture no longer exist, while many others have been rebuilt to their original configuration. Very few historic buildings of the city have been preserved - the sights are merely an echo of the old historical shape of Białystok.[20]
Historical buildings
A number of recurring cultural events happen every month in Białystok. The list includes, but is not limited to:
