Warsaw joins the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) 20.07.2023
Warsaw has just joined the International Cities of Refuge Network ICORN. This is the result of several years of efforts in which our city was also involved. It is also the result of cooperation and activities focused on expanding the network that provides a safe asylum for creators and human rights defenders who cannot live and create freely in their own countries.
The contract was signed on July 20 in Warsaw by Helge Lunde, Executive Director of the ICORN, and Aldona Machniowska-Góra, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw. The document was countersigned by Robert Piaskowski, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Krakow for Culture, who is a member of the ICORN Board.
ICORN - safe haven
The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) offers a refuge residency to writers and human rights defenders who, due to persecution, cannot live and create freely in their homeland. The network was established in 2005 in Norway. One of its originators was Salman Rushdie - the author of the famous "The Satanic Verses", which caused violent protests in the Islamic world and the imposition of a fatwa on the author by Ayatollah Khomeini - a sentence ordering every true Muslim to kill the writer.
ICORN gathers 85 cities in 19 countries, and the activities of the network are one of the strongest voices in the world in defense of the right to freedom of opinion and expression as well as international solidarity. Cities involved include: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Bergen (Norway), Brussels (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Frankfurt (Germany), Lucerne (Switzerland), Malmö (Sweden), Mexico (Mexico), Norwich (United Kingdom), Oaxaca (Mexico), Oslo (Norway), Paris (France), Pittsburgh (United States) or Reykjavik (Iceland).
ICORN gathers 85 cities in 19 countries, and the activities of the network are one of the strongest voices in the world in defense of the right to freedom of opinion and expression as well as international solidarity. Cities involved include: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Bergen (Norway), Brussels (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Frankfurt (Germany), Lucerne (Switzerland), Malmö (Sweden), Mexico (Mexico), Norwich (United Kingdom), Oaxaca (Mexico), Oslo (Norway), Paris (France), Pittsburgh (United States) or Reykjavik (Iceland).
Krakow - the first Polish city in the network
Krakow joined ICORN in 2011. The moment when our city joined the network coincided with the Czesław Miłosz Year, solemnly celebrated in Poland. The organizers of the ICORN program in Krakow are the City Council, the Villa Decius Institute of Culture, which implements the scholarship program and provides a place for creative work, and the KBF - the operator of the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature program.
− I often emphasize that Krakow is a city of open gates. We work in many fields for integration, equality and tolerance. Hence, among others, involvement in ICORN. Together with dozens of other cities belonging to the network, we provide safe conditions and a place to work for many artists, and the example of Krakow has become an inspiration for other Polish cities that have joined the network. Freedom is one of the highest values, so it is worth getting involved in all projects that support it. I congratulate Warsaw and look forward to the cooperation of our cities in the network - says Andrzej Kulig , deputy mayor of Krakow.
Since joining the ICORN network, Krakow has hosted eleven writers in residency programs: Maria Amelie (real name Madina Salamova - North Ossetia / today in Norway), Kareem Amer (Egypt / today in Norway), Mostafa Zamaninij (Iran), Lavon Barszczewski (Belarus), Asli Erdogan (Turkey), Felix Kaputu (Congo), Monem Mahjoub (Libya) and Kholoud Charaf (Syria/today in Germany), Aaiún Nin (Angola, now Switzerland), Vladimir Neklaev (Belarus) and Andrei Khadanowich (Belarus).
Our city actively participates in the network's initiatives, as well as in meetings organized in various cities belonging to ICORN. In 2013, Krakow hosted the international "Writing Freedom" conference, prepared in cooperation with ICORN and PEN International WiPC (Writers in Prison Committee), which was attended by nearly 200 representatives of literary life: writers, critics, translators, managers and activists of literary institutions from 50 countries. Currently, Robert Piaskowski, the plenipotentiary of the mayor of Krakow for culture, represents Krakow in the ICORN Board of Directors, which also includes representatives of Amsterdam, Uppsala, Harstad, Stavanger, Bern and Pittsburgh.
− I often emphasize that Krakow is a city of open gates. We work in many fields for integration, equality and tolerance. Hence, among others, involvement in ICORN. Together with dozens of other cities belonging to the network, we provide safe conditions and a place to work for many artists, and the example of Krakow has become an inspiration for other Polish cities that have joined the network. Freedom is one of the highest values, so it is worth getting involved in all projects that support it. I congratulate Warsaw and look forward to the cooperation of our cities in the network - says Andrzej Kulig , deputy mayor of Krakow.
Since joining the ICORN network, Krakow has hosted eleven writers in residency programs: Maria Amelie (real name Madina Salamova - North Ossetia / today in Norway), Kareem Amer (Egypt / today in Norway), Mostafa Zamaninij (Iran), Lavon Barszczewski (Belarus), Asli Erdogan (Turkey), Felix Kaputu (Congo), Monem Mahjoub (Libya) and Kholoud Charaf (Syria/today in Germany), Aaiún Nin (Angola, now Switzerland), Vladimir Neklaev (Belarus) and Andrei Khadanowich (Belarus).
Our city actively participates in the network's initiatives, as well as in meetings organized in various cities belonging to ICORN. In 2013, Krakow hosted the international "Writing Freedom" conference, prepared in cooperation with ICORN and PEN International WiPC (Writers in Prison Committee), which was attended by nearly 200 representatives of literary life: writers, critics, translators, managers and activists of literary institutions from 50 countries. Currently, Robert Piaskowski, the plenipotentiary of the mayor of Krakow for culture, represents Krakow in the ICORN Board of Directors, which also includes representatives of Amsterdam, Uppsala, Harstad, Stavanger, Bern and Pittsburgh.
More cities in the network, more efficient operation
Krakow is the first, but today not the only Polish city in the ICORN. In 2015, Wrocław joined the network, in 2017 Gdańsk, and in 2019 - Katowice. Now Warsaw is joining it. Increasing the activity of Polish cities in the network means a more audible local voice and intensifying the effectiveness of actions.
It is worth noting that our city supported the capital in its efforts to join the network, both in terms of talks and mediation between the ICORN Board of Directors and the authorities of Warsaw, as well as sharing knowledge and experience with representatives of Warsaw organizations that will now implement the ICORN program in the capital.
− That Warsaw is now joining the ICORN stands for an important and significant gesture of the local authorities of our capital. It is a manifestation of the attitude of solidarity and commitment, as well as an expression of consistency in promoting the values of an open society, solidarity and pluralism - ideas so important at the present time. The capital of one of the largest countries in Europe, an important city in our macro-region, which has inevitably become a shelter for those seeking a safe place in recent years, is an important link for the Polish and an important symbol for the European network of cities of refuge ICORN. The richness of the network is that, apart from great capitals such as Warsaw, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris or Brussels, there are also smaller cities that jointly stand for social solidarity, freedom of speech and creativity. I am extremely grateful to the authorities of Warsaw and I am glad that we will develop the ICORN network together. I believe that the expansion of our network will allow us to respond more effectively to emergency situations and will enable us to provide safe living conditions and creative activity for writers and human rights defenders - emphasizes Robert Piaskowski , plenipotentiary of the mayor of Krakow for culture and member of the ICORN Board of Directors.
The ICORN residency program in Warsaw will be implemented by the Warsaw Cultural Observatory, an interdisciplinary cultural institution that conducts artistic, social, but also educational, research and scientific activities. Its task is to research to understand the changes that are taking place today and affect the cultural sector and cultural and artistic practices. The institution organizes artistic residencies for representatives of numerous cultural sectors. https://wok.art.pl
Photographies by Szymon Pulcyn
It is worth noting that our city supported the capital in its efforts to join the network, both in terms of talks and mediation between the ICORN Board of Directors and the authorities of Warsaw, as well as sharing knowledge and experience with representatives of Warsaw organizations that will now implement the ICORN program in the capital.
− That Warsaw is now joining the ICORN stands for an important and significant gesture of the local authorities of our capital. It is a manifestation of the attitude of solidarity and commitment, as well as an expression of consistency in promoting the values of an open society, solidarity and pluralism - ideas so important at the present time. The capital of one of the largest countries in Europe, an important city in our macro-region, which has inevitably become a shelter for those seeking a safe place in recent years, is an important link for the Polish and an important symbol for the European network of cities of refuge ICORN. The richness of the network is that, apart from great capitals such as Warsaw, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris or Brussels, there are also smaller cities that jointly stand for social solidarity, freedom of speech and creativity. I am extremely grateful to the authorities of Warsaw and I am glad that we will develop the ICORN network together. I believe that the expansion of our network will allow us to respond more effectively to emergency situations and will enable us to provide safe living conditions and creative activity for writers and human rights defenders - emphasizes Robert Piaskowski , plenipotentiary of the mayor of Krakow for culture and member of the ICORN Board of Directors.
The ICORN residency program in Warsaw will be implemented by the Warsaw Cultural Observatory, an interdisciplinary cultural institution that conducts artistic, social, but also educational, research and scientific activities. Its task is to research to understand the changes that are taking place today and affect the cultural sector and cultural and artistic practices. The institution organizes artistic residencies for representatives of numerous cultural sectors. https://wok.art.pl
Photographies by Szymon Pulcyn