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This year’s European Barbórka celebrations at the historic Ignacy Mine will go down in history! During Saturday’s event, 7th December, a plaque for the European Heritage / Europa Nostra Award was hung on the wall of the building. The fact that luck comes in pairs is best demonstrated by the fact that in 2024, the aforementioned winner of this ‘European Heritage Oscar’ also won the Grand Prix in the Conservation and Adaptation category.
Invited guests included former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, Tomislav Vidošević, who received an honorary mining sword. The ceremonial handing over of the bronze plaque to the Mayor of Rybnik, Piotr Kuczera, was attended by Prof. Jacek Purchla, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and chairman of the Jury of the European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award. In his speech, Prof. Purchla stressed that the success was possible thanks to the involvement at various levels – the city authorities, the mine, heritage specialists and civil society – adding:
‘I am proud that in 2024 such a spectacular civic initiative from Poland has been recognised in the most prestigious category of Conservation and Adaptation. This is a special opportunity for us Poles to share our good practices in caring for various forms of European heritage with the international community.’
A highlight of the event was a demonstration of the commissioning of a steam engine, the oldest operating machine of its kind in Europe. The evening was topped off by a unique concert by the Post-Industrial Entertainment Orchestra – Radio Hoym, which performed hits of legendary songs from electronic music, rock and pop in the Silesian language. In the complex of buildings of the engine room and shaft top of the Kościuszko Shaft of the Historic ‘Ignacy’ Mine in Rybnik, such hits resounded as: ‘Electricity’ by O.M.D., “We All Stand Together” by Paul McCartney and “Kombinat” by Republika. The authors of the project are Adam Kowalski and Michał Fetler.
The event was streamed live online; it can be watched again HERE.
Fot. Dominika R / Rybnicka