On Wednesday, 29 October, during this year’s Małopolska Heritage Protection Forum, the award ceremony for the Małopolska Days of Cultural Heritage took place, where the Europe Nostra / European Heritage Award 2025 was presented. The award, in the form of a bronze plaque, was presented to the Director of the Małopolska Institute of Culture Tomasz Włodarski, by Prof. Jacek Purchla, Vice-President of Europe Nostra and Chairman of the Europe Nostra Awards Jury, along with Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, Board Member of Europe Nostra. The event was held at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków and was also attended by Dr Katarzyna Jagodzińska, Head of the Europe Nostra Heritage Hub in Kraków.
Fot. Alicja Rzepa
The Małopolska Days of Cultural Heritage is an event that has been a part of the lives of Kraków residents and the region for 27 years. It was initiated in 1999 by the authorities of the Małopolska Voivodeship and, since 2002, has been organised by the Małopolska Institute of Culture in Kraków. It is one of the largest cyclical events promoting the region’s cultural richness. Thanks to this initiative, thousands of residents and tourists are able to visit palaces, monasteries, factories, and homes every spring — exceptional places that are normally inaccessible to the wider public. Water, time, nature, music, cuisine, or ornament — each year, under a different theme and from a different perspective, the event allows us to explore the treasures of the region. Additionally, the event features workshops, lectures, and artistic activities. The Małopolska Days of Cultural Heritage engage local communities, volunteers, scholars, and officials, promoting inclusivity and cooperation. To date, it has attracted over 300,000 participants and showcased more than 300 sites in partnership with nearly 500 collaborators, strengthening social bonds and regional identity.
Among the recipients of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025, there are two representatives from Poland: the Małopolska Days of Cultural Heritage (in the category of Civic Engagement and Awareness Raising) and EC1 Łódź – City of Culture (in the category of Conservation and Adaptive Reuse).