Pacanów as the European Capital of Fairy-Tales
Every Pole knows Pacanów, a small town nestled among the picturesque meadows, fields and hills of the southern reaches of the Ziemia Świętokrzyska region. This is owing to Billy-Goat Matołek whose adventures have been amusing several generations of children as the stories, with Kornel Makuszyński’s rhyming text and Marian Walentynowicz’s excellent illustrations, were created in 1933.
Being 80, the resourceful Matołek, who travelled the world in search of Pacanów, “where goats are shod”, should be actually called a sedate old goat, were it not for the fact that fairy-tale characters are licensed to be eternally young. In 2003, at the 70th birthday of the famous Billy-Goat, the then Minister of Culture solemnly declared Pacanów as the European Capital of Fairy-Tales. A lot has changed there since that day. The town has gained the European Centre of Fairy-Tales, a modern cultural establishment that addresses its activities to children, parents and people working with children. The complex of buildings inspired by memories of childhood includes the Museum of Fairy-Tale Characters, the Library of Children’s and Teenage Literature with a reading room, a cinema, theatre, bookstore, gift shop and a café. There is also an educational garden and an amphitheatre.
With such excellent facilities, efforts were made to promote the European Capital of Fairy-Tales. Within the project, co-financed by the EU, a number of interesting events were held, such as the Congress of Fairy-Tale Characters, Children’s Encounters with Comic Books, Festival of Children’s Culture, Educational Fair and two contests. A nationwide radio, television and billboard campaign was launched with accompanying leaflets and brochures. A website (www.stolica-bajek.pl) was also created to present the Centre of Fairy-Tales as “a unique place inspiring you to reach for books and nurturing positive values among children and adults alike”.
In the 5th contest Poland Even More Beautiful. Seven Miracles of EU Funds, was nominated for the main award in the Child-Friendly Place category.
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