The project of Małopolska Renaissance Heritage is an initiative of the Willa Decjusza Association for promotion and protection of cultural heritage and tourist attractions connected with the region’s traditions. It is addressed to the Regional Authorities, local society, owners and users of historic buildings, teachers, trainers and journalists. Project structure covers Meetings with the Renaissance culture addressed at open public, and study visits for children from elementary schools.

I. Meetings with the culture of the Renaissance

In effect of co-operation between owners, bodies managing Renaissance buildings and representatives of local self-governments, selected buildings will be opened for all interested people The sightseeing will be accompanied with Meetings with the culture of the Renaissance which include lectures and artistic events devoted to widely understood culture of the epoch. These events will become a basis for long-term programmes of common cultural activities addressed at schools from whole Małopolska. In 2009 within the open meetings the following were opened: Castle in Sucha Beskidzka, Manor in Jeżów, Renaissance lumber-room in Branice Manor, Park and Palace in Młoszowa, Castle upon Mirów in Książ Wielki, Grave of the Lord Basillica in Miechów and Decius’ Villa in Kraków.

Aim of the Meetings with the culture of the Renaissance is to promote Małopolska’s architecture through preparation of historical buildings for opening for inhabitants and tourist, to prepare their unified promotional identification and creation of a coherent programme of making them accessible to the public.

II. Study Visits for school teens

‘Małopolska Renaissance Heritage’ Project is also aimed at preparing a modern model of cultural education aimed at school children and teenagers, as well as their teachers and guardians. This model will be used to expand school education with topics connected with cultural heritage and to focus the students’ attention at new areas of interest. Culture lessons take place in historic buildings constructed in the Renaissance period. Seeing the historical substance allows students to learn new topics permanently. We expect that uncommon scenery of the meetings will allow students to learn more permanently about widely understood culture.

Educational classes concern selected topics from culture, with special focus on the Renaissance period. The programme includes: history lessons concerning architecture of the buildings,  including features of Renaissance buildings, as well as profiles of previous ownes, who represent Polish noble families. It is our intent to show the epoch in the broadest, the most vivid and interesting view. Therefore students will also learn about music, dance, instruments, costumes, texts and customs of that epoch. Lectures will be supplemented by a multimedia presentation, together with a broad comment. As a supplement to theoretical knowledge there will be cultural workshops conducted under supervision of instructors. Among others, the students will learn the basic steps of renaissance dance and types of wardrobe.

The project also includes integral parts such as: a common meal which is a pretext to learning etiquette around meals at the court of Zygmunt the Old. The programme also includes art workshops with students preparing works inspired by the lecture or the presentation. During the workshops arrangements of renaissance chambers, letter ornaments or ornaments supplementing court dresses will be prepared.

The Project of „Małopolskie Renaissance Heritage” has met with great interest from the educational circles. Participants of the programme will include elementary school students, teachers, guardians and teachers of the participating children, as well as artists and media representatives. It is aimed to conduct 27 study visits with 800 students participating. Aim of the study visits is to prepare a modern model of cultural education addressed at school children and teens, teachers and instructors basing on examples of space indicated by historical values of historical renaissance buildings in Małopolska.

The project implementation will be summarised by: a network of parents (users and owners) who are located in Renaissance buildings in Małopolska, a book on Renaissance culture addressed at school children, as well as a multimedia presentation for promotion of the project idea and encouragement for other cultural centres in historical buildings to implement the project.

When implementing the task, the Association focuses at sustainability of the idea of promoting local cultural heritage – therefore it is the assumption of the project is to encourage other cultural centres in historical buildings to implement the project, and to implement the programme of study visits. In order to implement this assumption we are organising seminars and pass the information about the programme to the media.

In 2010 another series of open Meetings with the culture of the Renaissance has been planned between 12th September, 24 October and 7th November.

Details for making buildings accessible and information about the project are at www.szlakrenesansu.pl and www.villa.org.pl