Discussion panel “Ecologies of Culture V. Activism” | Poland
Curator: Janusz Adam Biedrzycki
Moderator: Zofia Smolarska
Guests: Helena Smoczyńska, Aleksandra Sztuka-Tulińska, Paweł Szykulski
Date: August 30, 2025 / Saturday
Time: 3 pm - 5 pm
Place: Garden in the Courtyard / Foyer (depending on the weather), Art Factory in Łódź, 3 Tymienieckiego Street
Admission: free
Duration: 2 hours
Age Restrictions: none
Language: discussion meeting will be held in Polish
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT
In the situation of the ongoing climate crisis that our planet is facing, the growing activity of ecological movements is becoming increasingly noticeable. They are raising both hope for real change and controversy related to the forms of action taken. In such a reality, the traditional division into “good” and “bad” activists is no longer sufficient.
Where does socially accepted activism end and radicalism or even eco-terrorism begin? How can we distinguish acts of civil disobedience from actions which provoke fear or social opposition? When does environmental protection become a threat to public order? And most importantly: how does social media and cultural mechanisms shape our perception of ecological initiatives?
We will discuss these and many other issues during the next, fifth meeting in the series “Ecologies of Culture”. We invite you to join us in reflecting on the limits of engagement and forms of protest in the era of climate crisis.
“Ecologies of Culture” are a series of meetings and reflections on ecology, initiated at the International Theatre Festival Retroperspektywy in 2022. The leading topic of the reflections is how art and cultural institutions can engage in pro-climate and pro-ecological activities. So far, 4 meetings have been held: “Ecologies of Culture I” (2022), “Ecologies of Culture II. Education” (2023), “Ecologies of Culture III. Costumes and scenography” (2023), “Ecologies of Culture IV. Urban Ecology” (2024).
The meeting “Ecologies of Culture V. Activism” will be accompanied by the presentation of two book publications:
-
I. Premiere of the e-book “Ecologies of Culture IV. Urban Ecology”, Przestrzenie Sztuki - Łódź Teatr 2025 project
This is a publication based on the reflections of participants of last year's discussion meeting, which took place as part of the “Ecologies of Culture” series, during the 13th edition of the International Theatre Festival Retroperspektywy. The publication includes the voices of people actively working at the intersection of culture, ecology and urban space: Janusz Adam Biedrzycki, Zofia Smolarska, Magdalena Gałkiewicz, Marcin Gawroński, Kasper Jakubowski and Kinga Zinowiec-Cieplik. Their conversation creates a multi-voice story about urban ecology - a concept that combines care for the natural environment with responsible shaping of urbanized space. The authors face questions about the place of nature in the city, the possibilities of its protection and the role of culture in the process of green transformation.
-
II. Promotion of Zofia Smolarska's book “Theatre Ecology. Relational Analysis of the Institution of Theatre from the Perspective of Theatre Craftsmen”, Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 2025
The book addresses the issue of the work of theatre craftsmen and craftswomen - a professional group marginalized both in research and in institutional practice. Analysis based on in-depth interviews and fieldwork allows us to capture the complex networks of dependencies that shape contemporary art production. Smolarska reveals the dark side of artistic institutions: inequality, violence, waste of resources and degradation of the meaning of work. She asks fundamental questions about the conditions of creating art and justice in the field of culture. This is a book that is both scientific and engaged, proposing new tools for thinking about theatre and its future.
“Smolarska's book is distinguished by the balance it maintains between scientific work, proposing new methodologies and metaphors for theatre studies, and commitment to the fight for more just working conditions in culture and for models of managing cultural institutions other than neoliberal ones. This balance means that we are dealing with a book of a high substantive level, based on excellently mastered skills, but also sensitive to the inequalities and injustices affecting the weakest people participating in the processes of creating culture.”
Prof. dr hab. Marek Krajewski
INFORMATION ABOUT THE GUESTS
Janusz Adam Biedrzycki - curator of the meeting. Actor, dancer, choreographer, theatre instructor and director. Graduate of cultural studies (specializing in folklore studies, ethnology, theatre studies and film studies) at UMCS in Lublin and postgraduate studies in cultural management at the University of Łódź. He completed the course “Pedagogue in the theatre” at the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute. Co-founder and member of the CHOREA Theatre. Scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (2010, 2014) and the City of Łódź (2013, 2017, 2022). Since 2007, he has been working as an instructor and educator at the Art Factory, as well as the author of many artistic and educational projects and workshops. Founder and leader of the Youth and Intergenerational Theatre Groups working at CHOREA Theatre. Member of the Association of Polish Stage Artists since 2022. Curator of the discussion series “Ecologies of Culture”: “Ecologies of Culture I” (2022), “Ecologies of Culture II. Education” (2023), “Ecologies of Culture III. Costumes and scenography” (2023), “Ecologies of Culture IV. Urban Ecology” (2024), "Ecologies of Culture V. Activism" (2025).
Zofia Smolarska - moderator of the meeting. Theatre studies and social researcher. Author of books and articles devoted to, among others, participatory methods of creating art and ecological aspects of culture and artistic crafts. She has lectured on issues of cultural ecology at the Theatre Academy in Warsaw and at the Jagiellonian University. Currently, assistant professor at the Laboratory of Scientific Research at the University of Warsaw.
Helena Smoczyńska - (post)activist, co-founder of the Youth Climate Strike, in recent years involved in the activities of groups such as: Extinction Rebellion Youth, No Man Is Illegal, Women's Strike and Last Generation. Co-creator of workshops for lost (post)activists entitled “How to find yourself in the Universal Crisis”. Engaged advocate of the vision of the Osada.Earth project. Doula during the training of the Perinatal Support Academy, fascinated by the power of women in childbirth.
Aleksandra Sztuka-Tulińska - Deputy Director of the Environmental Management Department at the City of Łódź Office. A designer and expert in cultural heritage management, she has extensive experience in urban greenery design, blue-green infrastructure, and urban adaptation to climate changes.
Paweł Szypulski - Programme Director of the Greenpeace Polska Foundation, previously head of the Climate and Energy team. Associated with Greenpeace since 2016. Specializes in climate protection and fair energy transformation, deals with strategic planning. Co-author of the campaign for the Green Welfare State - a vision in which people and the environment are placed at the centre of social and political life, while strengthening public services and moving away from fossil fuels. He has many years of managerial experience in the PR and public affairs industry. He is motivated to act by the need to protect human rights threatened by the climate crisis.
Premiere of the e-book “Ecologies of Culture IV. Urban Ecology” takes place as part of Przestrzenie Sztuki - Łódź Teatr 2025 project.
Project financed from the funds of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, realised by Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute.
Project financed from the funds of the City of Łódź.
Organiser: Art Factory in Łódź
Co-organizers: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute, City of Łódź
Partner: CHOREA Theatre
