Project & Design
Gniezno Agency
for Economic Development

"There not many places in the world where history so strongly intervenes with the present and almost every detail of monumental architecture enchants one bringing back the echoes of past events which impressed their prints on the history of the Polish nation" - said Marek Woźniak, Marshall of Wielkopolska Province while opening the celebration of the summing up of the exhibition the author of which was a well-known Gniezno photographer Mirosław Skrzypkowski, at the seat of the Committee of Regions in Brussels.

Mr. Gerhard Stahl - General Secretary of the Committee of Regions, co-organiser of the exhibition - welcomed numerous guests who arrived on this occasion, expressing his respect and opinion that Wielkopolska, through the beautiful artistic exhibition, showed not only its own rich history but also the rich history of Poland. In this way an idea is fulfilled - the building of the Committee of Regions serves European regions which in Brussels can show what for them is historically, culturally and economically most precious and most characteristic - in this way creating the image of Europe of Regions rich because of its diversity.

The exhibition - "Gniezno - the first Capital of Poland" was open from 13th till 24th February 2006. Its aim was to show both the cultural and economic potential of Gniezno sub-region. The opening celebration gathered over 200 people - mainly representatives of European institutions, regions, members of European Parliament and European officials. The exhibition was a wonderful form of coming into existence in the consciousness of European decision-makers, that is people who make important decisions particularly for the benefit of the regions of European Union.

Officials of Polish diplomatic institutions who came to the exhibition, including Ambassador Marek Grela who leads the Permanent Representation of the Polish Republic at UE, members of European Parliament, members of the Committee of Regions, representatives of European Committee, European Union Council, Economic-Social Committee, European Regions accredited in Brussels, Polish Catholic Mission, Belgian and French Polonia did not conceal their admiration for the beauty of presented exposition. They expressed an opinion that the exhibition in Brussels perfectly promotes Gniezno, Wielkopolska Province and the whole of Poland, thanking for bringing closer the information about our rich history in such a beautiful form.

Jacek Kowalski, Gniezno Starost , expressing his thanks for the possibility of presenting through photography the beauty of Gniezno and Gniezno Poviat (Polish administrative district) in the contemporary capital of European Union, said: "Ideas of one common Europe propagated by our outstanding countryman Pope John Paul II are being realised today. Since May 2004 Poland has been the member of European Union. We are learning from our elder brothers from European community how to take advantage of the opportunity that history put before us. I believe that we will take advantage of our belonging to the common European family. And fear of losing national identity after joining European Union today seems ungrounded. This exhibition is the best example of that."

The exhibition consists of 52 photos divided into three thematic groups; Gniezno, Gniezno neighbourhood and "a step into modernity", that is computer arrangements of the author's photos. Before going to Brussels the exhibition had been presented in Gniezno.

Iwona Kalinowska- Szwedek from the City Culture Centre in Gniezno was the Commissioner of the exhibition and the author of the catalogue.

The originator of the exhibition was Paweł Arndt, presently member of Polish Parliament, previously Chairman of Wielkopolska Province Parliament.

The hosts of the exhibition were: Gerhard Stahl - General Secretary of the Committee of Regions and Marek Woźniak - Marshall of Wielkopolska Province.

The exhibition took place thanks to deep involvement of Wielkopolska Province Representatives Office in Brussels. The main burden of the costs of the organisation of the exhibition was born by Marshall's Office in Poznań and Starost's Office in Gniezno. The Town Office in Gniezno also participated financially.