The new name - Barbara (now without the word "bar"), modern interior and furniture, new features (the showcase of European Capital of Culture 2016), and a tip of the hat to history, and especially to the citizens of Wroclaw; these will be the architects of a new order in Barbara. And it is on their inventiveness that the programme of this place will depend.
Barbara specially for the citizens of Wroclaw
"This space was first a catering premises, then had its ups and downs. And now we show that we want to co-create our Wroclaw's Barbara together" says Krzysztof Maj, director of Impart 2016 Festival Office. As a local patriot, he also promises that everything in Barbara will come from Wroclaw or Lower Silesia manufacturers: from equipment designed by the studio of designer Oskar Zięta, to porcelain from Jaworzyna Ślaska, glass from glassworks Julia in Piechowice, to bistro food, i.e. regional products and the classic. In the garden there will be specially designed wire chairs associated with the Polish People's Republic, with matching tables.
What we seek in Barbara
What else will there be in 1200 square meters? First of all, Infopunkt (about Wroclaw and the ECC 2016), a place for culture (a special separate workshop room, a conference room or a large hall, which will also serve as a meeting place for, among others, the European Night of Literature, or concerts). The entresol will also include offices - one of Krzysztof Maj, of the part of the ECC 2016 marketing team, and the team responsible for the project Mikrogranty (Micro Grants).
What is most important, however, is that Barbara (this is the official name of the place) is to remain a meeting space. "We count on the creativity of the citizens of Wroclaw in building the operating programme for Barbara" encourages Krzysztof Maj. "If you have a proposal for an art exhibition, you're welcome. It may turn out that the chairs are uncomfortable, so for example, we will ask seniors and children, to jointly sew pillows" suggests the director of Impart 2016 Festival Office.
Housewarming party on the June 12-14 weekend
The official ribbon cutting won't take place until the third day of the opening, and everyone is invited to Barbara's housewarming party on Friday, June 12 from 17.30, when Mamatucada band will play a concert. Afterwards, there will be the awaited performance of Lech Janerka (at 8 p.m.), a former frequenter of Barbara Bar. It was he who told the organizers that the place once served the sultan cream, i.e. whipped cream, rum and meringue dessert (it will be on the menu of the evening).
One more highlight on the opening day will be Quiet Barbara, or silent disco dance party. "There will be 300 headphones and two channels to choose from, all of which will broadcast music prepared by two DJ duos - from the Radio RAM and the Academic Radio Luz" enumerates Marek Gluziński, coordinator of the "Barbara" project. "This is how we want to regularly carry out a formula of dance music events" he explains.
On Saturday, June 13, available will be workshops for children, 3D Dizajn (12 a.m. - 2 p.m.) and at 6 p.m. starts a reading of the book "Proximity" by Mariusz Kiljan, as a part of the European Literature Night. In the last opening day - on Sunday, June 14, the official opening (from 12 a.m.) and the opening of the exhibition "Sit Polish Style" by Oskar Zięta, and at 8 p.m., a performance by Theatre Novy Ruch at 8 p.m., and their project "Macht Mir Spass."
"We want to show the space of Barbara in various renditions. Barbara's "eyes" are focused on two streets - ul. Świdnicka (this is where the exhibition of chairs is available- you can sit on them and try them out) and ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego (this is where large-format images will be presented, reminding how things once were in Barbara)" says Joanna Męczyńska, the coordinator of Barbara.
Special neon for Barbara
Coming soon from ul. Świdnicka, a new neon will glow over Barbara. Each letter of it is inspired by the old neons of Wroclaw. The idea of the former architect of Barbara Bar was also successfully completed, to open the windows facing ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego. "In the times of the PRL, it was considered a fad, and today we have sliding windows" brags Krzysztof Maj.
Barbara: friendly for the disabled and our pets
Barbara is adapted for the disabled. For this purpose, a fragment of ul. Świdnicka was rebuilt, to facilitate wheelchair access. But Barbara can become a mecca also for pet owners. Dogs are welcome inside.
