The festival highlights the multicultural richness of Poland's eastern Podlaskie region, where Poles, Russians, Belarusians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Jews, and Germans have lived side by side for centuries.
This year’s festival aims to reconnect with the region's diverse past while also showcasing contemporary artistic achievements. Artists and performers from various nationalities and cultures, including those historically significant to the area, will present their work.
The program features a range of musical performances, from rock and pop to jazz, indie and electronic, with acts such as Kwiat Jabłoni, Mikromusic, Grubson, Marika and Skubas taking to the stage.
In addition to the concerts, there are exhibitions, such as Linen Towel by Dominika Koszowska, a series of documentary photographs about the Podlaskie region, and film screenings, including Forest directed by Lidia Duda and Libertate by Tudor Giurgiu.
With over 30 events on the schedule and free admission to all, the festival continues until Sunday, August 25.
Organized as part of the East of Culture project, which links Białystok and two other eastern Polish cities—Lublin and Rzeszów—with Eastern Partnership countries, the festival promotes cultural exchange and dialogue, blending history with contemporary artistic expression.
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Source: IAR, bok.bialystok.pl, nck.pl
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.