Olsztynek (PL) - Cittaslow Festival 2013 presentation of the Network of Polish Cittaslow Cities

In the days preceding the festival, the National Assembly of Polish Cittaslow Network elected
for a new term the National Coordinating Committee and theNational Coordinator. Appointed Committee will head the network's activities over the next two years. Its members include mayors of Biskupiec, Bisztynek, Lidzbark Warmiński, Reszel, Murowana Goślina, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Olsztynek and Ryn. The National Coordinator has been elected again Mr. Arthur Wajs, Mayor of Lidzbark Warmiński.

On Saturday, May 18, the Olsztynek's market was filled up with stalls, which presented all cities of Polish Cittaslow, representing their artisans and members of the Culinary Heritage Network Warmia Mazury Powiśle. Throughout the day, at the Festival art scene, musical bands from Cittaslow towns have been presented, also groups from the Kaliningrad Region. The star of the evening was the band 'Zbigi Band' from Olsztyn.

Olsztynek residents and tourists had the opportunity to taste for free regional dishes specially prepared for this event.

In the Showroom of the Folk Architecture Museum the conference was held entitled 'Cittaslow - new trends in the development of small towns in Europe and the world' with the participation of the international guests. Among the speakers was Mr. Pier Giorgio Oliveti, Cittaslow International General Secretary talked about 'Cittaslow – the world network of the cities of good life', Mrs. Andrea Mearns, Vice President of Cittaslow International (town of Mold, United Kingdom) held its speech on 'Cittaslow in Europe – experiences, best practices' and Prof. Assoc. Krzysztof Skalski, Jagiellonian University, a member of the International Scientific Committee of Cittaslow presented the speech on 'Cittaslow territorial aspect of European strategies for the years 2014-2020'.

During the conference, Mr. Pier Giorgio Oliveti, Cittaslow International General Secretary, accompanied by Mr. Jarosław Słoma, the Vicemarshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, solemnly handed to the Mayor Lubawa the diploma confirming accession to the International Cittaslow Association. It was obviously just a formality, since Lubawa is a full member of the network since last fall.

For a whole two days participants everywhere accompanied by sympathetic orange snail (though sometimes it took on other colors) a symbol of urban quiet life - Cittaslow towns.
Cittaslow Festival was organized within the project "Cittaslow - city network of Warmia Mazury and Powiśle chosing a good quality of life" of the Regional Operational Programme Warmia and Mazury 2007-2013.