Purpose of the Action
The open call aimed to select and support an artistic project to be implemented in Brochów, Wrocław. The selected project received €10,000 in funding. The initiative was part of the “DemArt” program by the International Institute for Community-Based Art Commissioning (IICCA), which seeks to democratize art funding and reflect the needs of local communities.
Area of Activity
Brochów, a neighborhood known for its multicultural character and rich history, became the site for artistic actions that integrate and engage residents.
Who organized the open call and made the selection?
The process was led by a team of three young art commissioners — Arleta, Gosia, and Hubert — collaborating with the Art Transparent Foundation as part of the IICCA project. They supported participants at every stage of the project development.
Who were they looking for?
They sought artists and collectives interested in realizing creative projects in Brochów. Projects were expected to be community-oriented, responsive to local needs, and bring joy and inspiration to residents’ daily lives.
What were the expectations?
The call welcomed all artistic forms, including unconventional, interdisciplinary, and innovative formats. The organizers looked for bold ideas that would engage the Brochów community and address its history, needs, and lived experiences.
Evaluation Criteria
Projects had to take place in Brochów and meet at least one of the following:
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For the Brochów community
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With the Brochów community
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About the Brochów community
Additional points were awarded for:
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Long-term impact
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Relevance of the theme
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Inclusion of various community groups (Poles, Roma, Ukrainians, Africans, railway workers, etc.)
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Originality and boldness
Process Overview
Phase I
Short interviews were held with selected applicants. By the end of March 2024, three finalists were chosen, each receiving €1,000 to develop their proposals.
Selected Projects
Each project involved community engagement through workshops, meetings, or walks, and culminated in a tangible outcome — a mural, a cookbook, or a publication about Brochów’s contemporary history.
- visualization of mural: Four Seasons of the Block, Filip “Skont” Niziołek
Mural: Four Seasons of the Block
Filip “Skont” Niziołek
A Wrocław-based graffiti and mural artist, Skont specializes in large-format portraits. For him, people and their stories are at the heart of art. His project proposed a mural for Brochów, inspired by conversations and encounters with local residents. The mural would feature portraits of those he met during the project. The process was to be documented with video footage. The mural’s aim: to beautify the neighborhood, portray the spirit of Brochów, and dispel negative associations with the chosen location.
- visualization of cookbook: Brochów Comfort Book
Cookbook: Brochów Comfort Book
Jagoda Dobecka
Brochów is a vibrant district rich in cultural diversity — especially in its culinary traditions. Jagoda aimed to connect with residents through food and comfort. Together, they would discuss dishes associated with joy and safety. Recipes would be recorded in various forms, and the project would culminate in a community meal. Cooking together would become a social exchange and reflection on care as labor.
About the artist: Jagoda Dobecka is a graduate of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and a PhD candidate at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has been exhibited at leading institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and KODE in Bergen. She focuses on collective processes of loss and care, using participatory strategies to build community and challenge hierarchies.
- visualization of publication
Workshops and Publication: The Town of Brochów
Julia and Mikołaj Tkacz
Although we live in the same district, our idea of what it is can differ. What is “home”? Who belongs in a community? Julia and Mikołaj set out to show the variety of perspectives in Brochów through drawing and printmaking, inviting residents to create posters, zines, and a visual identity for the neighborhood.
The project included a month of workshops followed by a publication documenting Brochów’s current social history and a community picnic. The publication will be designed for replication in other neighborhoods, and an unofficial logo for Brochów will also be created.
About the artists: Julia and Mikołaj Tkacz are a romantic-artistic duo who promote inclusive, socially engaged art. They believe in play, creative failure, and moving at their own pace — and invite participants to do the same. They work in music, comics, literature, and painting.
Phase II
In April and May 2024, the finalists submitted detailed proposals including project descriptions, visualizations, budgets, and schedules. Final submissions were delivered by May 31, 2024. On June 22, 2024, all finalists presented their projects during the SURVIVAL Art Review. A discussion with Brochów residents followed, helping determine the winner.
After community consultations involving local residents, the artistic team, and the commissioners, the project chosen for realization under the DemArt – International Community Art Patronage was Filip “Skont” Niziołek’s mural.
At 6:00 PM on June 22, 2024, the following announcement was made:
“We chose a project that is bold, uncompromising, and, in our opinion, will have the greatest impact on the life of the neighborhood.
We honor an artist who is not afraid to enter spaces others avoid — places with a bad reputation, where residents are often excluded from everyday life.
We appreciate his deep social sensitivity, his ability to connect, converse, and remain open to everyone.
This work has the potential to empower, restore dignity, and give visibility to people who have endured much — homelessness, addiction, mental health crises.
This project gives us hope that we will come closer to them, learn their stories, and stop looking away. Like Filip, we will no longer be afraid.
Most importantly, this project is rooted in authentic relationships and in building bridges between worlds that rarely meet.
The voice of Brochów residents also strongly influenced our decision. They identified this project as a priority, where they saw the greatest need for grassroots work.
Filip wants to do something no one has done before. And if he doesn’t do it, perhaps no one else will. We know of no better person to take on this difficult — but essential — task for Brochów.
We are filled with pride and joy to help make this project happen.”
