The Eve of Presidency” in Krasnogruda will feature the Grand Opening of the International Dialogue Center in buildings of the Krasnogruda manor complex. debates, concert and exhibition

30 June 2011 is the centennial of the birth of Czesław Miłosz, Noble Prize laureate, son of the Polish-Lithuanian borderland, a Polish emigree in France and citizen of the United States of America. Both, Poland and Lithuania declared 2011 to be celebrated as Miłosz Year and many places, starting from New York, through Brussels, Krakow, and as far away as Beijing and Tokyo will be venues of various events commemorating Miłosz. Simultaneously, 30 June 2011 will be the eve of the inauguration of the Polish presidency of the European Union, 1 July 2011. For that reason, Krasnogruda event has entered the official list of celebrations marking this, special for the history of Poland occasion, called “The Eve of Presidency”.

The International Dialogue Centre in Krasnogruda will be opened on June 30, 2011. The opening will be attended by authorities from both Poland and Lithuania. On the border between Poland and Lithuania, in the near vicinity of Kaliningrad and Belarus, an institution will be built, devoted to education in borderland areas, the practice of building good neighbourly relations in multicultural environments, cooperation and the exchange of experiences with partners for different European countries.

European Agora will comprise three events:

THE AGORA OF PHILOSOPHERS – „Hospitable Europe”
Participants: Zygmunt Bauman (Leeds), Cezary Wodziński (Ublik), Michał P. Markowski (Cracow).

THE AGORA OF POETS – „Europe’s Child”
Participants: Alicja Rybałko (Vilnius), Adam Zagajewski (Cracow) and Marcelijus Martinaitis (Vilnius). Moderator: Irena Grudzińska-Gross (New York).

THE AGORA OF ARTISTS - “Return” Oratorio
The premiere of the “Return” oratorio by Vlad Marhultz (New York) inspired by Czesław Miłosz’s poem under the same title, composed especially for the European Agora.

In addition an exhibition titled “A Europe of Crossed Borders” will showcase work specially created by artists for the European Agora.

The event is organized under UNESCO auspices.
It will be transmitted online at www.nina.gov.pl and www.dwutygodnik.com

Krasnogruda is situated in one of the most charming corners of this part of Europe, right on the Polish-Lithuanian border, on Lake Hołny. The Krasnogruda hill commands a view on the ecologically unpolluted, post-glacial landscape of hills, lakes and forests that stretch further, over the border, into the neighbouring Russia (Oblast Kaliningrad), Lithuania, Belarus and Poland. Located here is the manor with its spacious park, formerly property of Czesław Miłosz’s family. “Borderland” is to found here the Pedagogical Province of Bridge Builders.

This event, on its completion, will be followed by another two days of symposia, workshops and artistic presentations.

This event is part of Attention Culture!, the Cultural Program of the 2011 Polish EU Presidency, which comprises a six-month series of exceptional events and artistic projects, including the European Culture Congress, held as a part of the Polish presidency in the EU Council.

Organizers Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, National Audiovisual Institute

Local organizers Borderland Foundation; "Borderland of Arts, Cultures, Nations" Centre; Office of the Marshal of Podlaskie Voivodship.

Local partners Kovno University, Lituanian Literature and Folklore Institute; Institute of Grand Duchy of Lithuania; Czesław Miłosz’s Birthplace Foundation