June
Cittaslow Festival 2014 in Ryn – presentation of Polish Cittaslow towns
On Saturday, May, 24th in Ryn the fifth edition of the Cittaslow Festival took place. Every member town from Polish Cittaslow Network participated in it, also candidate cities and those interested in Cittaslow movement.
On the preceding day, the meeting of Polish Cittaslow National Network was organized. At the meeting the bills were voted on recommendation of membership of Kalety (Silesia Region) and Rejowiec Fabryczny(Lubelskie Region). In this way Polish Cittaslow Network consists already of 17 member towns, whereas 14 are form Warmia and Masuria Region. The decision was also taken to recommend two representatives of Polish Network for Cittaslow International authorities: Mr. Artur Wajs – Mayor of Lidzbark Warmiński and Mr. Artur Wrochna – Mayor of Olsztynek. The new bodies of the Association will be chosen during the General Assembly in June in the Netherlands.
On Saturday, May, 24th, the Ryńskie Lake shoreline turned into the ‘Cittaslow street’ full of stalls, where each city presented itself (Barczewo, Biskupiec, Bisztynek, Dobre Miasto, Gołdap, Górowo Iławeckie, Lidzbark Warmiński, Lubawa, Murowana Goślina, Nidzica, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Olsztynek, Pasym, Reszel, Ryn, Kalety and Rejowiec Fabryczny), their craftsmen and members of the Culinary Heritage Network of Warmia Masuira Powiśle. Along the stands, a nice orange snail was walking – well know already from last year Festival in Olsztynek, symbol of the cities of calm life namely Cittaslow. One could watch the knights fighting shows, participate in artistic workshop and children games.
All day long the Cittaslow Festival artistic stage was open, where groups from Cittaslow towns were presenting and the evening star were choirs form Warmia and Masuria: Youth Choir Collegium Juvenum, Cantata Choir form Elbląg and Folk Song and Dance Group,,Kortowo”.
Inhabitants of Ryn, tourists and invited guests had e a chance to taste for free regional dishes prepared specially for this occasion by the restaurant members of the Culinary Heritage Network Warmia Mazury Powiśle: Inn ‘Ryński Młyn’ and ‘Krys-Stan’ restaurant from Olsztyn. One could taste among 4 thousands of portions of dumplings, kartacze, potato cake and soups.
In the conference room of the Castle Ryn the yearly conference took place entitled ‘Cittaslow Cities from the point of view of Community Development’ with participation of the authorities of Cittaslow International from Italy. The conference was opened by Mr.Józef Karpiński – Mayor of Ryn. The guests were welcomed by Mr.Jarosław Słoma – Vicemarshal of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, and the speakers were: Mr. Arnoud Rodenburg, Vicepresident of Cittaslow International, Mayor of Midden-Delfland (Netherlands), Mr.Knut Gustav Woie, Mayor of Eidskog (Norway) and Prof. Krzysztof Skalski, Jagiellonian University, member of Cittaslow International Scientific Committee, expert of Polish National Cittaslow Network with presentation ‘Implementation of Social Integration Programmes on the background of the Cittaslow Movement Requirements – Local Dimension’.
In the second part of the conference mayors of Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Gołdap and Reszel told about the development of their Cittaslow cities in the context of social cohesion. In the conference participated numerous representatives of Cittaslow member towns, candidate cities: Bartoszyce (Warmia and Masuria Region) and Nowy Dwór Gdański (Pomorskie Region), cities interested in the Cittaslow idea: Górzno from Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region and Puck from Pomorskie Region, representatives of regional and national media (TTG Polska, TVP S.A., Poznaj świat, TVN, SlowLife Food&Garden – media patronage of the Festival, Voyage, The Self-Government and Administration Newspaper), regional institutions, world of politics, administration, tourism, culture and science.
The beginning of the Festival was broadcasted live by Polish Television, Olsztyn.
Cittaslow Festival was organised in the frames of the project ‘Cittaslow – a network of cities in Warmia, Mazury and Powiśle favoring a good quality of life’ from the means of the Regional Operational Programme Warmia and Mazury for the years 2007-2013.
More information on: www.cittaslowpolska.pl