Władysław Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpackie Region

Ladies and Gentlemen,

TRANS/MISJE International Festival of Arts is a unique event in Europe which had to be conceived as it originates from the need to share the cultural heritage of border areas. I am happy that the festival is initiated by the Podkarpackie Region, or more specifically by Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów, which this year hosts the first edition of TRANS/MISJE.

The project is a joint effort of regions linked by a historical legacy of borderlands, giving shape to their identity, culture, growth and mentality. During the seven days of the festival, theatres from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine and Lithuania will present, in Rzeszów and Łańcut, a variety of indoor and outdoor performances addressing issues relevant to the culture of Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to these, various locations in the city will host exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, and meetings as well as events for the youngest audiences. In accordance with the concept of the festival, the events will be open to the general public, and in addition to theatre stages, they will be presented outdoors, in the city squares, streets and parks.

The Festival is held at a very important time, the year marking 100th Anniversary of Polish Independence. The date is important not only for Poles, but also for other European nations, because the end of World War I in 1918 for them meant a completely new opening, in Europe defined by new rules and borders. This explains the title of the first edition of the Festival – “1918. The end and the beginning”.

For those in attendance the festival will be an excellent opportunity to experience the diverse cultures of the borderlands and to look at the history of our part of Europe through the eyes of artists – actors, painters, photographers. I am convinced this will be a fascinating event, exploring various artistic domains, and providing an arena for a meeting of partners sharing historical and cultural heritage, and linked by a desire to create a distinctive place within European diversity.

Władysław Ortyl
Marshal of the Podkarpackie Region