On 25-27 October, Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) and Director, European Institute of Cultural Routes visited Łódź, Poland in preparation for the 12th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe to be held in Łódź on 20-22 September 2023.

Mr. Dominioni was accompanied by Ms. Urszula ŚLĄZAK, EPA Bureau member and Director of the Department of International Relations from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland and Ms. Teresa MIKULSKA, Counsellor in the Department of International Relations to meet with the local authorities of Łódź and discuss the organization and logistical arrangements of the upcoming Forum.

During the three-day visit, several meetings were held with the participation of Ms. Hanna ZDANOWSKA, Mayor of the City of Łódź, Ms. Joanna SKRZYDLEWSKA, Deputy Mayor of the City of Łódź, Mr. Mariusz GOSS, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City for the Heritage of Łódź, Ms. Katarzyna ZIELIŃSKA, Municipality of Łódź, Mr. Rafał SYSKA, Deputy Director of the EC1, Ms. Aneta DALBIAK, Director of the Museum of Textiles, Mr. Tomasz KORALEWSKI, President of the Łódź Tourism Organization and Mr. Jakub ROSŁY, Łódź Tourism Organization.

The visit was the occasion to present the various Forum venues and showcase the heritage sites around the city. In particular, Mr. Dominioni had the opportunity to see EC1; Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa (the Museum of Textiles) with Ms. Aneta DALBIAK, Director; Museum of the City of Łódź; Manufaktura and Museum of Factory; Herbst Palace; Art Inkubator; Księży Młyn and OFF Piotrkowska Center.

More than 300 delegates are expected to attend the Annual Forum, bringing together representatives from EPA member States, certified “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe” and candidate networks, International Organisations, Universities and academic centres, as well as stakeholders from cultural and heritage institutions and the tourism sectors.

Poland is a member State of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) since 2017. It is currently crossed by 18 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

Ms Urszula ŚLĄZAK, Director of the Department of International Relations, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, is the Representative of Poland to the EPA Governing Board.