Katarzyna Wielga-Skolimowska:
Welcome Speech

In her welcome speech, Katarzyna Wielga-Skolimowska, Artistic Director of the Federal Cultural Foundation, chose a quote from the economist and science theorist Otto Neurath to illustrate the current situation of cultural institutions: “We are like sailors who must rebuild their ship while at sea, never able to begin anew from the shore. Whenever one beam is removed, another must immediately take its place, using the rest of the ship for support. In this way, the ship can be completely redesigned through gradual reconstruction, using the old timbers and planks.” For her, setting out means not only bidding farewell to what is no longer needed, but also having the courage to move forward and to strengthen one another – a process of letting go and growing at the same time.