Summer is a great time to explore the city and discover Gdańsk from a less obvious perspective. Last year, in addition to yoga, sailing, volleyball, and running, we invited you for walks around Oliwa, Zaspa, Nowy Port, and Aniołki. This year, together with the Urban Culture Institute and Local Guides, we are discovering new districts. We start after work, at 5:30 PM!
In August, we will delve into the secrets of Oliwa, and we will also visit the Gdańsk Shipyard, following in the footsteps of the shipyard women, as part of the Metropolitanka project.
Three walks and a wealth of history await us, easily overlooked when traversing Gdańsk by well-trodden paths. We invite you!
OLIWA | AUGUST 12 | 5:30 PM
The Culture Town Hall and a now-defunct building, where we will begin our story. The secrets of Polanki Street, the building of the 5th High School, and the Cistercian church, where an unprepared tourist often gets lost. What was it like with the Oliwa district and why is there nothing to boast about, meaning the history of the current post office building? Who was Kanapariusz? Oliwa Park, where we will learn the extraordinary history of the Abbots’ Palace and discover something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE WOMEN OF GDAŃSK SHIPYARD | AUGUST 25 | 5:30 PM
Why did the shipyard need women, and women need the shipyard? Join us for a walk along the path of Gdańsk women by choice. Where did the shipyard workers come from? How were women encouraged to take up work there? What was daily life like at the shipyard? Under what conditions did welders, crane operators, and insulators work? What did they eat during work? All this against the backdrop of Polish months, namely December ’70 and August ’80.
Lokalni Przewodnicy i Przewodniczki
These are daily walks off the beaten path, during which residents of Gdańsk, with passion, knowledge, and commitment, guide us through the lesser-known corners of Gdańsk. The list of routes, expanded over the years, now includes nine districts: Oliwa, Orunia, Dolne Miasto, Nowy Port, Biskupia Górka, Wyspa Sobieszewska, Zaspa, Aniołki, and Siedlce.
Each walk is conducted according to the guide’s original script. During the walk, you can learn about the local nature and architecture, discover the history of the district, and peek into its secret places usually known only to residents. The guides talk about literary inspirations or artistic themes related to a given place, and their narratives are often seasoned with personal touches. The walks allow you to experience the city from a different perspective. Sometimes, the stories told by the guide surprise even the oldest residents of the district. Tourists, in turn, appreciate the “insider” knowledge of the guides, which reveals the atmosphere of the place and allows them to delve deeper into the city’s specifics. More about Local Guides…
Metropolitanka
Metropolitanka is a herstory project (from English her story), which restores the voice to women omitted in traditional narratives. Together, we discover the history of the Tri-City through the prism of the experiences of female workers, activists, artists, and residents of the Metropolis. During the walks of the Metropolitanka project, organizers and guides weave stories, restoring memory and voice to women overlooked in official narratives. Join us and discover the history of Gdańsk through the experiences of female activists, laborers, employees, and residents.
Walking, you will learn why the shipyard was called a mother and what Kone cranes have in common with wives. We will tell you about the daily lives of women – nurses, crane operators, welders, cleaners, office workers, and cooks. We will answer questions: was working at the Shipyard associated with prestige? What support could female employees expect? What role did women play in strike activities? We will debunk myths and share true stories. metropolitanka.ikm.gda.pl
Project Organizer
Instytut Kultury Miejskiej (Urban Culture Institute) – a self-governing cultural institution that creates events for and with the participation of residents. Its goal is to increase the role of culture in city life and develop local identity. For more events, please visit www.ikm.gda.pl.
Strategic Patron: Stary Ziomek i Morze
Media Patrons: Radio Gdańsk, Prestiż Magazyn Trójmiejski, Trojmiasto.pl
Partners: Plama GAK, Stowarzyszenie Biskupia Górka, Opowiadacze Historii Dolnego Miasta w Gdańsku, Od Wyzwolenia do Wolności, Stacja Orunia GAK, Fundacja Wspólnota Gdańska, Wyspa Skarbów GAK, Rada Dzielnicy Aniołki.
