The building which was the seat of the Madness music club until quite recently is now becoming a completely new place. This is where young artists or those who want to resume their previously abandoned hobbies will find an adequate space and atmosphere for self-fulfilment.
Seven persons with ideas and passion
A group of seven persons came up with an idea to create a place that would provide shelter to those who want to fulfil their artistic ambitions.
“This idea emerged as a result of our previous activities. Once we were creating a theatre and it was difficult for us to find a place where we could stage our performances,” says Jacek Kupczak, one of the co-founders of ToTu. “We performed in pubs and restaurants, where we had little room and the atmosphere of consumption did not favour the presentation of art. So we lacked a chameleon space of variable nature, where driving a nail to the floor or rearranging furniture would not be a problem. This is how the idea for such a place was born."
”We had a whip-round for the repair and lease of the building from the Polish Railways,” says Anna Poteralska from ToTu. “Each of us has a job. Some persons work in corporations and receive calls all day long, Jacek is a builder and another person works in a bookshop or delivers sushi. This place is situated outside this ordinary and well-organised life. We do it, because it's our passion,” he adds.
Not so high art in the former Madness club
“We found the former seat of the Madness club particularly attractive, as it ideally fits what we want to do here,” says Paulina Pazdyka from ToTu. "We wanted to create a place that will not put off a person who drops in with his or her own project to complete it here. Freaky and unconventional initiatives are particularly welcome. Culture does not have to be boring, pompous or expensive or to hide within walls of philharmonic buildings or official public benefit organisations,” she adds. “We give access to space and others fill it with their own passions. We are open to co-operation with all cultural institutions in order to expand even more widely a circle of opportunities and prospects for interesting pastimes and the pursuit of all kinds of hobbies,” says Pazdyka.
Fencing, dance and theatre
The new place is still in the phase of transformation, but is already beginning to attract the interest of groups that want to utilise this space for the pursuit of their hobbies.
“Now we are collecting offers from people who want to conduct their activities in our place. There have already been dance groups, boys who practice fencing and a number of musical initiatives. Apart from that, we want to offer a place at affordable prices, which would not be something only for the chosen few,” add the originators of the project.
“We will ultimately operate as a foundation, and we want to help people to develop their passions. Apart from renting the room out to various groups, we will also create our own events. People who will come to us will be encouraged to co-operate with one another, too. An idea has already emerged to create a joint project of the dance group and fencers,” laughs Paulina.
Exercises on weekdays, performances on weekends
“Here you can not only prepare your own thing, but also present it to the audience. We have reflectors and curtains, and space can be arranged according to individual preferences, so organising an exhibition or a concert or staging a play will certainly be possible,” assures Jacek. “On weekdays, meetings and workshops of groups pursuing various hobbies will take place, and from Friday till Sunday we will organise a weekly ticketed repertoire, receipts from which will be used for maintaining this place and, perhaps, creating an individual grant for persons who will want to do something interesting,” he adds.
The official opening of ToTu is scheduled for the second half of May. If you want to know some facts about their current activities, visit their Facebook page.
Ula Jagielnicka
