“Odwrót” is a week-long, decentralised arts event—an anti-festival situated in small towns and villages across Lower Silesia, bringing together contemporary art, craft and ecological reflection. It involves members of local communities, regional artists and craftspeople, as well as international guests participating in The Big Green, a project dedicated to sustainability in culture.

Rather than concentrating everything into a single event, “Odwrót” unfolds as a week-long happening developed in close contact with nature and local heritage, including workshops, walks, meetings, presentations, lectures, educational games and community gatherings. Through study visits, open studios, presentations and workshops, artists will introduce their practices to both local audiences and international guests. We’ve prepaired artistic, hydrological and anthropological walks in Gorzanów, Bystrzyca, Duszniki-Zdrój and Kłodzko, as well as the peat bog nature reserve near Zieleniec. International guests will lead workshops and lectures on topics such as heritage interpretation, intercultural communication and the role of imagination in environmentally engaged art.

We propose respite as a cultural practice—a way of experiencing art, nature and cooperation beyond the pressures of major cultural centres and the intensity of the festival format. Activities will take place in small towns and villages in the Kłodzko Valley and the Kaczawskie Foothills, in spaces that play an important role in local social and cultural life, and in cooperation with local organisations and informal groups of residents. All events are free of charge, although advance registration will be required for some of them.

Programme

dates: 13–18 September 2026
locations in Lower Silesia: Bardo, Dobków, Duszniki-Zdrój, Gaj, Gorzanów, Kłodzko, Zieleniec

Sunday | 13 September 2026 | Gorzanów

19:00 | A meeting with the Portuguese artist José Jesus and a screening of his video works. The event will be held in English, with whispered interpretation into Polish. Venue: Gorzanów Palace. Free admission.

Monday | 14 September | Gaj, Gorzanów, Kłodzko

10:30–12:00 | Guided tour of Kłodzko Fortress in English, starting point: 4 Tumska St., Kłodzko; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

12:30 | Visit to the Sculptor’s House in Gaj, led by artist Piotr Makała, venue: Gaj 19; English translation available; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

15:30–17:30 | Intergenerational ceramics workshop with Mars Erdmann Marsresins, venue: Gorzanów Palace; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

18:00 | Lecture on the role of imagination in designing sustainable development in culture, led by Philippa P. Thapy in English; whispered interpretation into Polish available; venue: Gorzanów Palace; free admission

17:00–19:00 | Willow weaving workshop for children, led by Anita Tom-Such; venue: Sudecka Zagroda Edukacyjna, Dobków 66; registration required by email: kontakt@sudeckazagroda.pl or by phone: +48 75 617 14 68

Tuesday | 15 September | Bardo, Bystrzyca Kłodzka

10:30–16:00 | Architecture of the Flood – a biology and hydrology guided tour including a kayaking section, in English, meeting point: 33 Grunwaldzka St., Bardo; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

12:30–13:30 | Visit to Mars Erdmann Marsresins’ Ceramics Studio, venue: 24 Wojska Polskiego St., Bystrzyca Kłodzka; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

14:00–16:00 | Intergenerational ceramics workshop with Mars Erdmann Marsresins, venue: 24 Wojska Polskiego St., Bystrzyca Kłodzka; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

Wednesday | 16 September | Dobków

11:00–13:00 | Visit to the nature education centre in Dobków, with a lecture on the intersections of culture and geology and an introduction to the Land of Extinct Volcanoes, led by Monika Cychowska (Kaczawskie Association) and Christina Toma (University of Bucharest) in English; whispered interpretation into Polish available; venue: Sudecka Zagroda Edukacyjna, Dobków 66; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

14:30–15:30 | Visit to Galeria Pod Aniołem – Ceramics by the Rudnicki Family, meeting point: Dobków 104; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

14:30–15:30 | Visit to Kuźnia Korzenna, where old traditions are brought back to life: gingerbread baking and woodcarving, meeting point: Dobków 48A; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

15:30–18:30 | Geological walk and interpretation workshop – Wielisławskie Organs and Wilcza Góra, led by Monika Cychowska (Kaczawskie Association) and Simana Markovska (Interpret Europe), in English; whispered interpretation into Polish available; meeting point: Dobków 66; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

17:00–19:00 | Ceramics workshop for children at Galeria Pod Aniołem, meeting point: Dobków 104; registration required by email: kontakt@sudeckazagroda.pl or by phone: +48 75 617 14 68

Thursday | 17 September | Duszniki-Zdrój, Zieleniec, Dobków

11:00–12:30 | Guided anthropological and nature walk through Duszniki-Zdrój in English; meeting point: outside the F. Chopin Spa Theatre, 7 Zielona St., Duszniki-Zdrój; whispered interpretation into Polish available; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

13:00 | Workshop on inclusive, intercultural communication, in English, led by Borut Jerman, PiNA (Slovenia); whispered interpretation into Polish available; meeting point: Biblioteczne Centrum Kultury in Duszniki-Zdrój, 6a Sprzymierzonych St., Duszniki-Zdrój, multifunction room, first floor; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

14:45–17:45 | “Like a Sponge – the Secrets of Peat” – happening and artistic guided walk through the peat bog based on the guidebook “Like a Sponge”, led by Ania Siekierska in English; whispered interpretation into Polish available; meeting point: car park by the Torfowisko pod Zieleńcem Nature Reserve; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

An artistic journey through the peat bog developed from the artistic guidebook “Like a Sponge”. Artist Anna Siekierska will lead the group through forests and shrubs in a subjective, multisensory happening, inviting participants to experience the peat bog landscape and peat itself in a unique way. The artist’s scenario includes a walk, sensory and relaxation exercises, activities involving soil, refreshments, and improvisation.

Friday | 18 September | Gorzanów, Dobków

11:00–14:00 | “In Search of Water” – nature and art walk and happening with Anna Siekierska, in English, meeting point: courtyard of Gorzanów Palace; whispered interpretation into Polish available; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

This nature-and-art walk with Anna Siekierska in search of water will take us on a journey through Gorzanów, tracing hydrological changes in the landscape. The artist will guide participants through the grounds of Gorzanów Park, where we will investigate evidence of changing water levels in sediments, plant remains, and transformations of the local flora. The happening will also include the collective creation of an installation—a hydrological intervention inspired by lessons from beavers. A visit to the Cyranka water bottling plant and a tasting of edible plants will conclude this approximately three-hour event.

15:30–17:30 | “The Regional Developer” – Polish premiere of an environmentally focused card game, in English; led by Christina Jaritsch, OtoGen (Austria); whispered interpretation into Polish available; venue: Gorzanów Palace; registration required: zapisy@arttransparent.org

17:00–19:00 | Intergenerational willow weaving workshop, led by Anita Bernacka-Such from Pracownia Wikliny Willow; venue: Sudecka Zagroda Edukacyjna, Dobków 66; registration required by email: kontakt@sudeckazagroda.pl or by phone: +48 75 617 14 68

18:00 | Communal dinner at the café in Gorzanów Palace

19:00 | Intergenerational dance evening in Gorzanów – a lesson in regional and folk dances and a tasting of traditional baked goods, venue: Gorzanów Palace; free admission