ICORN in Kraków – Freedom of Expression, Safety, and Creativity 18.03.2026
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming ICORN residents from Warsaw and Gdańsk to Kraków, who visited us along with the ICORN network coordinators in Poland – Svetlana Hajdalionak from the Warsaw Observatory of Culture and Maria Iwaniak from Gdańsk City of Literature.
We invite you to browse the photo gallery from their visit and learn more about our work.
We invite you to browse the photo gallery from their visit and learn more about our work.
We believe that freedom of expression and safety are the foundation of creativity and democracy.
Thanks to international solidarity and cooperation, we are able to meaningfully support those who have had to fight for their right to speak – and give them space to ensure their voices continue to be heard.
The ICORN network is a powerful expression of solidarity and shared responsibility for defending freedom of expression and the right to create. Since 2011, we have served as a permanent refuge where those forced to leave their homelands can find not only safety, but also the tools to rebuild their voice and agency.
Since the beginning of the ICORN program at Villa Decius, we have hosted 12 residents – writers, artists, and researchers – who have developed their creative projects here. Each of them brings new perspectives, experiences, and sensitivities to the cultural life of Kraków, enriching the local community.
Being part of ICORN is also an opportunity for exchange – the residents meet with Kraków’s inhabitants, local cultural institutions, and civil society organizations. They share their stories and creativity while discovering the rich heritage of our city. This helps build a vibrant intercultural dialogue that makes Kraków even more open, diverse, and attentive to the experiences of others.
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming ICORN residents from Warsaw and Gdańsk, who visited Kraków together with the ICORN network coordinators in Poland – Svetlana Hajdalionak (Warsaw Observatory of Culture) and Maria Iwaniak (Gdańsk City of Literature).
Our guests included:
The program in Kraków was rich and inspiring.
The day began with a meeting with Prof. Dominika Kasprowicz, Director of the Villa Decius Institute for Culture. This was followed by in-depth conversations and interviews with Zulema Gutiérrez and Javier L. Mora at Villa Decius.
In the afternoon, the guests visited Café Nić, where they learned about cultural organizations working with the Ukrainian community in Kraków. They then had the opportunity to visit Potocki Palace and explore the literary activities of our partner organization, the Kraków Festival Office.
At Potocki Palace, a Spanish-language ICORN network meeting took place (featuring Dr. Xavier Farré and Dr. Silvana Gómez, Director of Centrolatinockl). Meanwhile, Dr. Rabigül Erkmen met with representatives from Gutenberg Publisher.
We concluded the day at the Multicultural Center in Kraków, where the ICORN residents presented their creative work and shared powerful stories and personal experiences.
The event had an open, participatory format, which encouraged lively interaction. The audience was deeply engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and responded to the stories with empathy and respect, creating a genuine atmosphere of dialogue and mutual understanding.
Thanks to international solidarity and cooperation, we are able to meaningfully support those who have had to fight for their right to speak – and give them space to ensure their voices continue to be heard.
The ICORN network is a powerful expression of solidarity and shared responsibility for defending freedom of expression and the right to create. Since 2011, we have served as a permanent refuge where those forced to leave their homelands can find not only safety, but also the tools to rebuild their voice and agency.
Since the beginning of the ICORN program at Villa Decius, we have hosted 12 residents – writers, artists, and researchers – who have developed their creative projects here. Each of them brings new perspectives, experiences, and sensitivities to the cultural life of Kraków, enriching the local community.
Being part of ICORN is also an opportunity for exchange – the residents meet with Kraków’s inhabitants, local cultural institutions, and civil society organizations. They share their stories and creativity while discovering the rich heritage of our city. This helps build a vibrant intercultural dialogue that makes Kraków even more open, diverse, and attentive to the experiences of others.
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming ICORN residents from Warsaw and Gdańsk, who visited Kraków together with the ICORN network coordinators in Poland – Svetlana Hajdalionak (Warsaw Observatory of Culture) and Maria Iwaniak (Gdańsk City of Literature).
Our guests included:
- Dr. Rabigül Erkmen – researcher, writer, and human rights activist specializing in Uyghur culture and persecution in China. She holds a PhD in Turkology and has taught the Uyghur language at Hacettepe University in Ankara.
- Zulema Gutiérrez (Holguín, Cuba, 1982) – poet and fiction writer, also active in children’s literature and experimental art (zentangle, collage). Her texts have been translated into English and published in several international anthologies.
- Javier L. Mora (Bayamo, Cuba, 1983) – poet, literary critic, and translator. Author of poetry collections and essays, editor of anthologies, and translator of Italian literature. His work explores contemporary Cuban realities.
The program in Kraków was rich and inspiring.
The day began with a meeting with Prof. Dominika Kasprowicz, Director of the Villa Decius Institute for Culture. This was followed by in-depth conversations and interviews with Zulema Gutiérrez and Javier L. Mora at Villa Decius.
In the afternoon, the guests visited Café Nić, where they learned about cultural organizations working with the Ukrainian community in Kraków. They then had the opportunity to visit Potocki Palace and explore the literary activities of our partner organization, the Kraków Festival Office.
At Potocki Palace, a Spanish-language ICORN network meeting took place (featuring Dr. Xavier Farré and Dr. Silvana Gómez, Director of Centrolatinockl). Meanwhile, Dr. Rabigül Erkmen met with representatives from Gutenberg Publisher.
We concluded the day at the Multicultural Center in Kraków, where the ICORN residents presented their creative work and shared powerful stories and personal experiences.
The event had an open, participatory format, which encouraged lively interaction. The audience was deeply engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and responded to the stories with empathy and respect, creating a genuine atmosphere of dialogue and mutual understanding.