Summary of project results
"Warsaw's Białołęka district is one of the capital's “dormitories"". The local community centre, relatively new and not well established, aspired to be a modern institution, open to local residents. The project's chief objective and achievement was opening the Białołęka Cultural Centre (Białołęcki Ośrodek Kultury - BOK) to the needs of local residents, by creating the Cultural Centre Forum - an advisory body comprising the residents willing to support and advise the BOK staff. The Forum is an integral part of the institution, facilitating communication with local residents. The project consisted of several stages aimed at developing the residents' sense of control over the centre's operation. Initially, consultations were held with the entire BOK staff, and meetings were organised with organisations, housing cooperatives and tenants' associations in the area. The meetings reinforced the relationships founded on cooperation and exchange of knowledge. An outdoor campaign of creating a map of locations important for the Tarchomin residents significantly contributed to building local identity and promoting the project. A diagnosis of local residents' opinions and needs concerning the BOK's programme and operation was prepared. People willing to participate in the Forum, together with the BOK staff, designed the principles of the Forum's operation, and suggested new uses for the unutilised sports ground next to the BOK. “Design thinking""-type consultations on the latter were the test of commitment and effectiveness of the new Forum members. Finally, a seminar was held to share the experiences of participatory actions in institutions of culture, using the cases from
www.partycypacjaobywatelska.pl. The participants of the project were the residents and the BOK staff. It was implemented in close cooperation with the BOK. The partner supported project activities logistically (providing rooms or spaces for meetings, using the available channels of communication and promotion), and assured the achieved solutions complied with the vision of the institution. The BOK staff were involved in diagnosing the needs, in the consultations concerning the sports ground, and in the process of organising the Forum, by co-preparing all the meetings and participating in them."