Improving access to cultural resources in Płońsk

Description

As part of the project, the Municipality of Płońsk wants to create the right conditions to expand and conduct cultural and educational activities, responding to the needs of the local community. To achieve this, it plans to rebuild a historic building
complex of the former railway station and water tower along with the development of the surroundings. Infrastructural activities have been planned to give the abovementioned buildings that are currently not in use, a new cultural and educational function
- a museum of the Płońsk region with an observatory and planetarium. To achieve the assumed goals, the project also includes the necessary soft activities that will enable the implementation and proper functioning of the project: training, cultural and
educational offer, promotion and purchase of equipment necessary for the functioning and implementation of the tasks of the newly created institution. The following soft activities are planned under the project:
1. A cultural and educational offer, including i.a. organization of Jewish Culture Festival in the city of Ben Gurion in 2023 and cultural and educational event entitled "Space launch" in 2023,
2. Under the project, 6 trainings, including 5 vocational trainings, are planned that are necessary to achieve the project''s planned objectives.
The project includes cooperation with the Norwegian non-profit organization - University College for Green Development (HGUt).
The cooperation between the Leader and the Partner in the implementation of the Project will consist in transferring knowledge and experience of the Norwegian partner in the following areas: asset-based development,
strengthening local stakeholders and culture managers, sharing experiences in giving monuments new functions to develop the local community. Four visits of HGUt representatives to Poland are planned. 

Summary of project results

The community of Płońsk and the surrounding region faced a lack of infrastructure offering a diverse range of cultural and educational programs. Another key issue was the need to revitalize and renovate the historic buildings of the former railway station and water tower, which had remained unused for many years and had consequently deteriorated. Both buildings, dating back to the 1920s and serving as important architectural, landscape, and historical landmarks of Płońsk, had significant potential to be repurposed as spaces for cultural and educational activities.

Residents of Płońsk expressed the need to expand and diversify the city''s cultural and educational offerings to better accommodate various target groups, including persons with disabilities and socially excluded individuals. Another challenge was the underutilization and inadequate management of local tangible and intangible cultural and historical heritage resources.

The project''s objective was to improve the condition of Płońsk''s historic infrastructure and repurpose it to introduce new functions aimed at expanding the city''s cultural and educational offerings, ensuring accessibility for all, and making effective use of local cultural and historical heritage resources.

As part of the project "Improving Access to Cultural Resources in Płońsk", two historic buildings on Towarowa Street in Płońsk were renovated and adapted. The former railway station building was transformed into the Museum of the Płońsk Region, which also houses the Documentation Workshop for the History of Płońsk. Meanwhile, the former water tower and an adjacent newly constructed twin building now accommodate the Jan Walery Jędrzejewicz Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory. The surrounding area was also developed as part of the project.

The project included the organization of six cultural and educational events:

• Outdoor Painting Workshop titled "Płońsk on Canvas";
• "Evening with the Stars", an event promoting local artists and the activities of the Płońsk Astronomical Enthusiasts'' Society named after J.W. Jędrzejewicz;
• "Calineczka" Puppet and Street Theater Festival;
• "St. Michael the Archangel Fair", a folk art festival;
• Jewish Culture Festival in the City of Ben Gurion;
• "Cosmic Launch", an event celebrating the opening of the observatory and planetarium.

Additionally, six professional training sessions were conducted as part of the project to enhance the competencies of local cultural stakeholders.

Thanks to the implementation of the project, this  historic site has regained its former glory and come back to life.

Nearly 1,000 m² of usable space within the buildings and over 3,500 m² of developed outdoor areas dedicated to culture and education have enabled the realization of new initiatives in the city. These activities benefit not only the residents of Płońsk but also people from the entire region, including: planetarium shows and screenings, astronomical observations, astronomy lessons and lectures, astronomy workshops, open-air sky shows, cultural and educational animation activities, exhibitions, museum lessons, local and regional history classes, intergenerational workshops and meetings on local history, and more.

The newly created public space allows for the organization of both permanent and temporary exhibitions showcasing the region’s historical and cultural heritage. The project has contributed to strengthening local identity and has significantly enriched the cultural offerings for all residents of Płońsk and the surrounding area—regardless of age, ability, or financial situation. This site is becoming an important cultural and tourist destination on Poland’s map.

Summary of bilateral results

As part of the project implementation, project stakeholders met four times with the partners of the Municipality of Płońsk. At the workshop meetings there were representatives of municipal institutions - municipal schools, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, City Historical Workshop in Płońsk, Municipal Cultural Center in Płońsk, Płońsk Circle of Astronomy Enthusiasts, Płońsk City Hall, i.e. the parties which directly benefit from the facilities modernized as part of the project. The partners shared their experience in implementing similar projects not only in Norway, but also across Europe, as they, as representatives of the University, have had the opportunity to participate in the direct implementation of tasks of a similar nature on many occasions. The exchange of experience in each project is intangible, but the results can be invaluable.