ECC 2016 opening ceremony: programme [MAPS]

"The European Culture Capital is the most important event for the city in its post-war history", said Rafal Dutkiewicz, mayor of Wroclaw before the announcement of events planned for the opening weekend. "Wroclaw is a great, open, tolerant city,' he said, 'and I want to stress, and please treat this as my statement, it's a city in which there is no place for nationalism and xenophobia".

View photos of rehearsals of 'Awakening' - Opening of the European Culture Capital 2016

"On behalf of the residents, I invite all to Wroclaw", said Krzysztof Maj, director of the ECC. "When preparing the ECC, we emphasised that culture was available everywhere - in parks, on streets, in hospitals, in prisons. You don't need to buy tickets to participate".

'Awakening'

The ECC opening weekend is first of all the ceremony 'Awakening' directed by Chris Baldwin, which will start on Sunday, January 17 in four districts of Wroclaw. Starting from the tram depot Dąbie, the bus depot at ul. Grabiszyńska, depot Popowice and the Academy of Land Forces in ul. Czajkowskiego, four processions will set off to the Market Square. They will be lead by the four spirits of Wroclaw: The Spirit of Many Denominations, the Spirit of Innovation, the Spirit of Reconstruction and the Spirit of Flood. They will tell the story of the city. A few metre tall installations of the spirits were designed by French artist Philippe Geoffroy. The grand finale will take place at the Wroclaw Market Square. This is where a spectacular show will take place, which will involve 1300 artists, 200 choristers, 50 soldiers and 300 cyclists.

'This will be the most spectacular opening, one that has never been seen before. That's all I can say for now. I won't give you any details, but there will certainly be surprises and twists,' says Chris Baldwin. 'Everyone is welcome to participate in the processions, he encouraged. 'We will begin to tell the story of Wroclaw on January 17 and finish at the closing ceremony. Another part of the 'Awakening' will be 'Flow', shown on the quays of the Oder on June 11, and the cycle will end with 'Sky,' at the closing of the ECC.

A weekend of events

The opening weekend also includes a project 'Mercouri/Xenakis' - a cycle of concerts at the NFM and a show referring to an ancient culture and the concept of the ECC, created by Greek actress and politician, Mellina Mercouri.

From January 16, the Museum of Architecture will present a unique exhibition - 'Made in Europe. 25 years of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award.' 'The exhibition is sailing to us from Shanghai, said Zbigniew Maćków, curator for architecture. 'I am delighted that we will be able to see 170 of the best European buildings. The exhibition will consist of architectural models, design documents and multimedia presentations.

The National Museum invites you to explore the 'Museum of Dreams.' From January 16, you can participate in a project combining painting, literature, music and theatre. It will include nine intimate performances directed by Jacqueline Kornmuller. The Austrian director chose nine works from the museum's collection. They will be an inspiration for writers who are involved in the project, e.g., Joanna Bator and Jacek Dehnel, and actors, among others, Joanna Szczepkowska and Hanna Konarowska.

The opening weekend will also be an opportunity to explore the work of a Basque artist Eduardo Chilida. We'll see his sculptures at the exhibition Voices in the BWA Awangarda Gallery. Forty works of the sculptor will be complemented by musical installations carried out by composer Gorka Alde. Chillida came from San Sebastian, a city that holds the title of the European Culture Capital together with Wroclaw.

The three-day opening will also include plenty of minor events - 100 music concerts in unusual places (railway stations, hospitals, shopping malls), installations, performances, and performances. Special buses will run for the opening ceremony, bringing in audience from all over Lower Silesia.