Activity

MISSION STATEMENT


The mission of the Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu in Torun is to develop, propagate and promote contemporary art. The CoCA aims to be a modern and dynamic centre of artistic fervour through establishing a regional art collection, a spectrum of open exhibitions, publishing and educational activities, stimulating support for art and contributing to art market development.
With a focus on cutting-edge, intermedia and interdisciplinary activities, a diversified programme and international cooperation, CoCA aspires to join the Polish and European cultural circuit and foster a forum for open discourse on the most vital contemporary art phenomena. The multifaceted and interdisciplinary nature of contemporary art requires the Centre's programme to engage fields that form visceral relationships with art, including music, dance, theatre, film, architecture and design.
The CoCA places special emphasis on cultural education through exhibitions, special educational programmes and publications. It is a pioneering role that will involve artistic and aesthetic education, as this region hitherto lacked a large institution focused on exhibiting, developing and promoting contemporary art. The modern building, hi-tech multimedia equipment, innovative web services (virtual gallery at www.ecsw.pl), art community page and art database (ART-BAZA) enable a broad spectrum of creative educational activities that extend far beyond the traditional scholastic approach.
By realizing these objectives, the Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu in Torun will become a significant and easily identified centre of artistic and educational activities in Poland and abroad, contributing to Torun's progressive involvement in the international artistic circuit.

THE ROLE IN THE CITY AND REGION

With its 200 thousand residents Torun is one of the main centres of urban life in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship. The city, famous for its cultural and academic heritage and a historic Old Town listed by UNESCO, attracts almost 2 million tourists from Poland and abroad every year. The city's social landscape and cultural life are shaped by a large group of students: about 35 thousand people attend the city's higher education institutions. Torun is a candidate for the title of European Culture Capital of 2016 –  a range of cultural events are organized to promote the city.

A strong element of the city's intellectual-artistic potential is provided by the Nicolaus Copernicus University with its Department of Fine Arts and the Department of Art History at the Faculty of History. The activity of these circles is reinforced by the activity of people belonging to the local artistic societies,  working at the District Museum in Torun, and people running some non – commercial galeries. Cultural role of higher education institutions is supported by numerous associations and scientific societies. In the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship there is a number of museums which possess interesting historic and artistic collections; these include: the District Museum in Bydgoszcz and Torun and some other Regional Museums (Włocławek, Chełmno, Grudziądz).

In the wide range of the region's cultural and academic activities there lacks a big institution centred on exhibiting, developing, and promoting international contemporary art. The CoCA in Torun aims to fill this gap. Rich interdisciplinary exhibiting and educational programme of the Centre aims to support and shape broad public's interest in contemporary art and to encourage active participation in artistic life.

According to the idea of the regional and city authorities, the CoCA in Torun will contribute to the development of the role of Torun-Bydgoszcz agglomeration on the map of Poland and Europe. The CoCA's activity is to ensure the participation of the city in international artistic exchange and to attract new kind of tourists – international contemporary art public.