European Solidarity Centre permanent exhibition promo

opening | 30-31 AUGUST 2014

The European Solidarity Centre is a multifunctional institution combining scientific, cultural and educational activity with a modern museum and archive, documenting freedom movements in the modern history of Poland and Europe.

The Letter of Intent to create ESC was signed by heads of state and government, who gathered in Gdansk in 2005, on the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of Solidarność. The Centre was established in Gdańsk on 8 November 2007, by the Minister of Culture, the Marshall of the Pomeranian Voievodship, the President of Gdańsk, the President of the European Solidarity Centre Foundation and the Chairman of the NSZZ Solidarność Trade Union.

The main purpose of the European Solidarity Centre is to preserve the heritage and retain a fond memory of Solidarność in order to hand it down to future generations, while stressing its relevance and universal value.

The first task, retrospective in its nature, was to realise a modern, interactive museum demonstrating how the events in the Gdansk Shipyard initiated the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. The Centre also accommodates a multimedia archive and library, with a collection of dispersed and neglected souvenirs of Solidarność. Together with exhibitions - permanent as well as mobile - ESC acts to strengthen awareness of modern history, which is pivotal in building     a European identity.

The second goal of ESC activity, the prospective one, is to hand down the heritage, ideas and notion of solidarity to future generations. We would like to confirm that solidarity - understood as the concern about the well being and common interest, and unity with respect for diversity - is still very relevant in modern society and worthy of all efforts of enhancement. Therefore, one of the most important areas of activity in this respect is education. ESC organises workshops, seminars, lectures and debates for young people,, their teachers and local leaders, from all over Europe.

We are also a cultural institution creating our own events and projects, and organising concerts and festivals with a view to inspiring fresh and new artistic movements.

Finally, we are active in historical research and social sciences. We aim to understand and explain the notion of freedom, justice and solidarity in order to become a centre of co-operation and integration, sharing the heritage of solidarity and its advocacy for justice, democracy and human rights with those who are deprived of it.

European Solidarity Centre
ul. Doki 1, 80-958 Gdańsk
tel. +48 58 767 79 71
e-mail: ecs@ecs.gda.pl