19. Oct 2015

The City of Wroclaw joins ICORN

Executive Director of ICORN Helge Lunde and Mayor of Wroclaw Rafał Dutkiewicz signs the ICORN membership agreement. Photo. — Executive Director of ICORN Helge Lunde and Mayor of Wroclaw Rafał Dutkiewicz signs the ICORN membership agreement.

Friday 16 October, Mayor of Wroclaw Rafał Dutkiewicz and Executive Director of ICORN Helge Lunde signed the ICORN membership agreement, as Wroclaw is on the threshold of becoming the European Capital for Culture for 2016.

The ceremony marked Wroclaw’s official entry into ICORN, confirming the city’s commitment to hospitality, creativity, solidarity and freedom of expression. The communication between the city and ICORN on the implementation of the project has already started, and the first ICORN writer is expected to arrive in Wroclaw in the first months of 2016.

The Vice-Mayor of Wroclaw Ms. Anna Szarycz spoke during the signature ceremony, expressing the hopes and ambitions for the city to include and engage their first ICORN guest in the cultural life in Wroclaw.

- It is very valuable for us to gain the experience, to show good will, by helping one specific person - Mayor Mr. Rafał Dutkiewicz continued. - Especially in times like ours when nations are put under pressure by unprecedented political challenges, it is important that cities can step forward and underline the democratic values of hospitality and solidarity, he stated.

- I can sense a very strong cultural energy in this city, ICORN director Helge Lunde concluded. - I am convinced it will be a great experience for the first ICORN resident to arrive in the European Capital of Culture for 2016. ICORN is very much about win/win situations, and this is what we believe will multiply when Wroclaw joins the network.