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Chapter 6. Cyclical contests, cultural events and Polish-Slovak cooperation
'Architectural detail' photographic competition
This photographic competition organised since 2002 is
a valuable initiative intended to document architectural details threatened
by destruction. The competition is co-organised by the Society of Friends
of Muszyna Almanac (SPAM) and the Krynica Photographic Society. Each year,
the contest deals with a different area or topic. Participants have focused
on the localities of Muszyna, Krynica, Żegiestów and Tylicz as well as
Stará Lubovla and Bardejov in Slovakia. Other themes have included railway
facilities, small bridges and foot bridges as well as other objects. Each
edition of the competition is evaluated by a panel of judges appointed
by the organisers, and the winning entries are displayed at an exhibition
at the Gallery of Main Pump-Room of Krynica. The exhibits are subsequently
presented in other Polish localities. In 2008, a photographic exhibition
comprising several editions of the contest was held at the Polish Academy’s
Earth Museum in Warsaw. Prize-winning photographs are also published in
the Muszyna Almanac. Extensive photographic documentation has been compiled
and is also available in electronic format. It is of great documentary
and educational value. This is an open competition which both amateur
art photographers and those with considerable experience to their credit
from many cities in Poland and Slovakia may enter. In 2013, exceptionally
the focus of the competition will diverge from its main theme and concentrate
on ‘the Faces of Poprad Valley.’
Poetry contest for 'Jan Kochanowski’s Poprad Laurels'
In 2011-2012, the first edition of a Poetry contest for
'Jan Kochanowski’s Poprad Laurels' was held. Its organisers was the Society
of Friends of Muszyna Almanac (SPAM) and the Cyprian Norwid Literary Society
based in Nowy S±cz. The central aim of the contest is to discover the
beauty of Muszyna and environs by means of historical and cultural pilgrimages
around the region. The competition comprises two categories: verse and
poetic works and limericks. Both categories have enjoyed popularity, and
numerous authors from various regions of Poland have sent in their entries.
Invited to the judges’ panel were: Adam Ziemianin, a poet linked to Muszyna,
as chairman; Kraków poet Józef Baran, a literary contest judge; poet Witold
Kaliński, president of the Cyprian Norwid Literary Society; and member
of the Cyprian Norwid Literary Society Monika Fabisiak as secretary. The
lyric poems submitted to the context hailed Muszyna’s virtues and assets,
describing personal impressions as well as encounters with local natural
beauty. The limericks perversely focused on Muszyna’s present-day themes,
well-known people and events with the touches of sympathy and occasional
nastiness (typical of this genre). The winners were chosen in a two-stage
elimination process, and the awards were presented at a ceremony held
at the Muszyna Public Library on the day of the annual meeting of Friends
of Muszyna Almanac. The prize-winning entries have been published in the
Muszyna Almanac. The organisers plan to hold the next edition of the contest
in 2014 and thereafter every two years.
Polish-Slovak Tennis Tournament in Zapopradzie
For the past 15 years, the beautiful tennis courts in
Muszyna’s Zapopradzie quarter have played host to an annual Polish-Slovak
tennis tournament. It is open to all interested parties. The event’s main
referee is Andrzej Koszucki.
'Poprad Loop' Little Polish-Slovak Cycle Rally
The pilot version of the First 'Poprad Loop' Little Polish-Slovak
Cycle Rally was a success. On 18th August 2012, 50 participants
from Poland and Slovakia covered a picturesque 41-kilometre stretch of
road with elevations totalling 432 metres. The rally started in Muszyna
and led through Leluchów, Plavnica, Malý Lipnik and Legnava and ended
back in Muszyna. The rally’s success encourages to its inclusion in Poland’s
overall series of 2013 cycling events. Muszyna will have thus acquired
yet another tourist attraction bringing visitors into the area. The rally’s
organisers — SPAM together with the Muszyna-based firms of Hans-Sport
and BT Vector, known for their promotion of sports and tourism — invite
interested parties to the rally’s second edition. It will be held along
the same route on 17th August 2013 and on similar dates in
the years ahead.
Calendar of Events: What, where, when?
Thanks to the efforts of Muszyna Almanac collaborator
Renata Kopacz, the website www.almanachmuszyny.pl
contains a preview of forthcoming cultural, tourist and sporting events
taking place in the S±cz area as well as activities organised by the Society
of Friends of Muszyna Almanac.
Polish-Slovak cooperation
The Viąehrad Youth Clubs first launched their activities in 2001. They
encompass young people from Muszyna, Poland; Stará Ąubovňa, Slovakia;
Vąetina, Czech Republic; and Nyiregyhazy, Hungary. Over a dozen meetings
have been held in different countries as well as many joint seminars and
concerts. The culmination of the programme was the ceremony which gave
the name Viąehrad Bridge to a newly opened span linking the border towns
of Muszyna, Poland and Čirč, Slovakia. This event took place in 2004 and
the ceremony was attended by the Prime Ministers of Poland and Slovakia.
The Program obtained support from International Viąehrad Fund.
The Muszyna Almanac contains numerous articles by Slovak authors printed
in their native tongue.
A unique development was the trans-border scholarship programme launched
in 2000. Joint concerts of Polish and Slovak youth have already become
a tradition. In Stará Lubovla they are held at the start of December on
the occasion of the feast day of the locality’s patron saint, and in Muszyna
— on 1st January.
Every year, joint Polish-Slovak exhibitions are held on both the Polish
and Slovak side of the border.
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