4.1. Project Activities of the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion in 1999–2018
The Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion managed four European programmes in 1999–2018, including:
In 1999–2003, projects of the Joint Small Projects Fund (WFMP) as part of the Phare CBC Cross-Border Cooperation Programme;
In 2004–2006, the Community Initiative Programme Interreg IIIA Czech Republic-Republic of Poland;
In 2007–2013, the Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Programme Czech Republic-Republic of Poland;
In 2014–2020, the Interreg V-A Programme Czech Republic-Poland.
In total, until 31 August 2018, 594 projects were approved under the aforementioned programmes, of which 302 (50.84%) are projects in the area of culture. The largest number of projects in the area of cultural exchange has been implemented as part of the Phare CBC Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. In the 1999 edition, out of 34 projects accepted for implementation, 19 concerned cultural exchange (57.58%); in 2000—out of 22 approved projects as many as 16 (72.73%) concerned cultural exchange; in 2001—the percentage of projects in the area of culture was even higher, amounting to 86.67% (out of 15 approved projects, as many as 13 concerned cultural exchange). In the fourth edition (2002) of the Joint Small Projects Fund managed by the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion, a total of 13 projects were approved, with 9 related to the cultural sphere (69.23%), and in the 2003 edition there were 11 approved projects related to cultural exchange (63.64%). Thus, in total, in five WFMP editions managed by the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion, 95 projects were approved, of which as many as 64 (67.37%) concerned cultural exchange.
In 2004–2006, the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion managed the Community Initiative Programme Interreg IIIA Czech Republic-Republic of Poland. Culture was one of this European programme’s areas of interest. During this period, in five calls, 62 projects were approved (submitted by 48 entities), including 35 which were related to cultural activity (56.45%). The Community Initiative Programme Interreg IIIA Czech Republic-Republic of Poland was implemented in the new, post-accession reality (the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic became full members of the European Union in May 2014).
One of the programmes—Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Programme Czech Republic-Republic of Poland (POWT RCz-RP)—covered the period in which Poland and the Czech Republic joined the Schengen Area (2007–2013). As many as 269 micro-projects were approved during that period, of which 140 were managed by the Polish side of the Euroregion (including 68 in the area of culture), and 129 by the Czech side (including 54 in the area of culture).
Since 2016, the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion has been co-financing projects as part of the Interreg V-A Programme Czech Republic-Republic of Poland, 2014–2020. By 31 August 2018, 149 projects have been approved, of which 70 fall within the cultural sphere (
Table 2).
The undisputed leader among Cieszyn’s cultural institutions in raising funds as part of the programmes managed by the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion is the Museum of Cieszyn Silesia, whose projects were implemented, among others, with the Tĕšínska Museum, a partner from the Czech side. In the case of cooperation between the two museums (Polish and Czech), institutions located on both sides of the border and implementing national policies, cooperation became particularly important. This cooperation connects both cities, and at the same time, builds a cross-border market for cultural services, as the nature of the projects was clearly indicated in their names, e.g., Exhibition: Cieszyn-Český Těšín, Yesterday and Today, Exhibition: Beskidy—Mountains that Connect, or Two Cities-One Tradition. The subject of the projects carried out by other cultural institutions was also related to this connecting tone. For example, the projects implemented by the “Dom Narodowy” Cieszyn Cultural Centre (Cieszyn Cultural Bridge, United Cieszyn Cultures, Tradition of Both Cieszyns) and the Cieszyn Library (Common roots. The launch of a series of source publications; Common sources. Support for the development of regional education and cross-border historical research, which focused on protecting and promoting the cultural heritage of Cieszyn Silesia).
The cultural institutions of Cieszyn and Český Těšín, such as: Museums, libraries, galleries, theatres and cultural centres, implementing cross-border projects financed through the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion from the sociological and anthropological perspective, are examples of remembrance institutions responsible for conducting discourse on the memory of the past. It can be assumed, therefore, that these entities are depositaries of remembrance, and through the implementation of Polish-Czech cultural projects, they manage this remembrance in some way. What is very important is that they do it in a sustainable way, because in accordance with the requirements of European programmes, when implementing their projects, they adhere to the guidelines of both Polish and Czech cultural policy conducted both at the national and local level [
42]. It is worth mentioning here that the preservation of the nation’s cultural heritage has been recognised by the Sejm [Parliament] of the Republic of Poland as one of the foundations of Poland’s sustainable development strategy. The resolution of the Sejm [Parliament] of the Republic of Poland of 2 March 1999 [
43] emphasises the harmonious concern to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the nation, along with civilisational and economic progress, which is the participation of all social groups. The specificity of the sustainable cultural policy of cities divided by a border will therefore be a concern for the harmonious arrangement of relationships between neighbours, and the preservation of the common cultural heritage—in the case of Cieszyn Silesia, this means traditions, dialect, works of folk or artistic culture. The analysis of the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion’s documentation indicates that cross-border projects based on the promotion and dissemination of common traditions, language or folk culture, most often receive Euroregional support. In addition, the review of reports on the implementation of these projects shows that cross-border activities in the area of culture go beyond the national point of view, and in the case of conflicts between partners (existing in the past), are based on the axiom of mutual reconciliation [
44]. Cultural institutions that create the cross-border market for cultural services in Cieszyn and Český Těšín, by implementing joint projects, thus become important links in maintaining the balance between satisfying “current social needs and the needs of future generations”. So we could say that the Euroregion, supporting the activities aimed at increasing the knowledge of the achievements of Polish and Czech culture, its spiritual values and valuable moral traditions, stimulates the sustainable development of the cross-border market for cultural services. In particular, it supports activities aimed at common Polish-Czech cultural education and equalising opportunities for access to cultural values. It promotes such shaping and diversification of cultural offerings, so that residents from both the Polish and the Czech part of the Euroregion can benefit from the cultural infrastructure available on both sides of the border.
4.2. Results of the Quantitative Research—An Examination of the Demand Side of the Market
One of the main problems related to the functioning of the cross-border market for cultural services analysed by the authors concerned the frequency at which the inhabitants take advantage of the cultural offerings available on both sides of the city divided by a border. The residents of Cieszyn and Český Těšín were asked how often they take advantage of the offerings of cultural institutions and entities located in Cieszyn (on the Polish side of the border). The results, which have been divided into residents of the Polish and Czech side of the city, are presented in
Table 3.
The data presented in
Table 3 shows that the vast majority of the inhabitants of the Polish side of the city (nearly 70%), have not taken advantage of the offerings of a significant part of the cultural institutions located in Cieszyn. In the course of further in-depth research, it turned out that in 2017, Polish respondents most often took advantage of the offerings of the Municipal Library in Cieszyn—20.61% of respondents, the Cieszyn Castle (17.14%), and the “Piast” Cinema (17.14%). The research conducted among the inhabitants of Český Těšín shows that in 2017 over 84% of the surveyed inhabitants of the Czech side of the city did not take advantage of the offerings of the Polish cultural institutions located in Cieszyn. Czech respondents most often visited such cultural institutions on the Polish side of the city as: The Cieszyn Castle (11.00%), the “Piast” cinema (4.53%) and the Municipal Library in Cieszyn (3.24%), which is most often used by the Polish minority living in the Czech Republic, and affiliated with the Polish Cultural and Educational Association in the Czech Republic (the largest organisation in Europe associated with Poles outside Poland [
45]).
Respondents were also asked how often they partook of the cultural offerings of cultural institutions located in Český Těšín. The data presented in
Table 3 also shows that Poles living in Cieszyn very rarely visited cultural institutions that are located on the other side of the border. The Těšín Theatre is the cultural institution in Český Těšín, which enjoys the greatest interest among Poles. Nearly 5% of the surveyed residents of Cieszyn visited this institution in 2017 many times; 4.69% of the Cieszyn residents surveyed visited the Těšín Theatre three or four times, and 12.45% of the them did so once or twice. Such a result could have been expected, given the fact that the Těšín Theatre, in addition to the Czech theatre group, features a “Polish Stage”—a group of Polish actors putting on plays in Polish. The surveyed inhabitants of Český Těšín declared that they most often took advantage of the offerings of the AVION literary café in Český Těšín, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the “Friendship Bridge” connecting Cieszyn with Český Těšín and the Cieszyn Castle. In 2017 Café AVION was visited multiple times (more than four times) by 22.33% of the surveyed Český Těšín residents. The Municipal Library in Český Těšín was visited multiple times by 20.71% of respondents, and the Těšín Theatre—by 20.06% of the respondents.
The issue of the familiarity and participation of residents in selected cultural events organised in Cieszyn and Český Těšín was also examined. The results, broken down into cultural events, which were implemented as part of Euroregional cross-border projects, and those that were implemented without financial support received through the Euroregion, are presented in
Table 4.
The data presented in
Table 4 shows that the level of familiarity with cultural events organised in Cieszyn and Český Těšín within the framework of Euroregional cross-border projects is much higher than the familiarity with cultural events that are organised without financial support received through the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion, and thus without the requirement of having an impact on the other side of the border.
This may be confirmed by the fact that nearly 74% of the surveyed residents of Cieszyn, and 59% of the residents of Český Těšín, claim that they are familiar with specific cultural events mentioned in the questionnaire (assisted knowledge), events taking place as part of Euroregional cross-border projects. The events implemented without financial support received via the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion had a definitely worse result. Events of this type are usually organised by Polish or Czech cultural entities independently, without consulting a partner on the other side of the border, and their promotion is usually limited only to the country in which the entity organising the event is located. Respondents were also asked to indicate the events and cultural undertakings in which they participated. As in the case of the previous question, a significantly larger part of Cieszyn and Český Těšín inhabitants participated in cultural events that were implemented as part of Euroregional cross-border projects (Cieszyn inhabitants 43.02%, Český Těšín inhabitants 31.97%) than in events, which did not receive funding from European Union funds through the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion (Cieszyn inhabitants—11.45%, Český Těšín inhabitants—8.06%). The data presented in
Table 4 also shows that Polish respondents are better acquainted with the cultural offerings of Cieszyn/Český Těšín than their Czech neighbours living on the other side of the border.
4.3. Conclusions from Qualitative Research—Study of the Supply Side of the Market
The next stage of the research included qualitative research, which was conducted by the interview method using an interview questionnaire (40 individual in-depth interviews). The interviewed experts were asked to indicate changes in the cultural offerings which, in their opinion, could contribute to the sustainable development of the cross-border market for cultural services in Cieszyn and Český Těšín. The vast majority of experts stated that in order for such a development to be possible, the coordination of activities carried out in both cities by cultural departments located on both sides of the border needed to be improved. According to some of the respondents (18 experts), the cultural departments of both cities should focus more on the coordination of activities carried out by local government cultural institutions, as well as assist these institutions in promoting the cultural offerings on the other side of the border. According to 12 experts, both local government units should organise regular meetings, during which all directors of cultural institutions could regularly meet representatives of municipal cultural institutions on the other (foreign) side of the city, to establish a common calendar of cultural events, or make strategic decisions regarding the further development of the cultural sector in both cities. At the same time, most of the experts surveyed considered that this required a common cross-border cultural policy that currently does not exist (32 experts). As part of this policy, the authorities of both cities should clearly specify what they expect from cultural institutions located on both sides of the city divided by a border. For example, should the cultural offerings follow the expectations of the majority of residents, and be even more commercial (closer to entertainment), or should it be more ambitious, more saturated with artistic content (which, however, is associated with greater financial outlays, and definitely more intensive cultural education than before). In the opinion of the respondents, the cultural policy in Cieszyn and Český Těšín has been reduced to managing cultural institutions or simply administering them, while it should be based on an understanding of the mechanism of the so-called ‘value creation chain’ in culture. According to experts, we have to stop looking at culture only in a sectoral way, and start to treat the potential of the cultural institutions of Cieszyn and Český Těšín as capital that significantly affects the socio-economic development of both cities and the region. It is also necessary to answer the question whether both cities want to develop a cross-border market for cultural services in Cieszyn and Český Těšín, or only to maintain their current status. Sustainable development of the cross-border market for cultural services, according to experts, requires shared, regular, long-term and often costly, activities (even in terms of shared marketing communication for the inhabitants of both cities), and not only the incidental activities which are carried out, for example, on the occasion of joint municipal holidays. The problem of municipal and inter-city transport has also been raised. The respondents pointed out that in Cieszyn and Český Těšín there is not a single public transport line that connects the two cities.
The joint promotion of Polish and Czech cultural institutions, a joint public transport line connecting the two cities, emphasis on the cross-border nature of both cities—could significantly contribute to the “fading away of the border”, and the sustainable development of the cross-border market for cultural services.
The surveyed experts were also asked whether cultural institutions cooperate with cultural entities, institutions, and organisations on the other side of the border. The vast majority of respondents (31 experts) stated that the institutions they represent cooperate with cultural organisations on the other side of the border. This cooperation is both very formal (e.g., in the implementation of joint Euroregional cross-border projects, co-financed by EU funds), and less formal (the organisation of joint cultural events, consultations or social events). The institutions most often look for partners with a similar profile on the other side of the border (for example, the Municipal Public Library in Cieszyn, and the Municipal Public Library in Český Těšín). The vast majority of respondents (37 people) stated that the main benefits (apart from the issues of acquiring cross-border funds) from the cooperation of cultural institutions from Cieszyn and Český Těšín are, of course, joint cross-border cultural events, such as: The “Cinema on the Border” Film Festival, or the “Without Borders” International Theatre Festival. An additional benefit associated with the organisation of cross-border cultural events, is the joint Polish-Czech promotion. It leads to “opening the door”, giving a pretext to the inhabitants, i.e., the audience on both sides of the divided city, to cross the border. An undoubted benefit of cooperation between Polish and Czech cultural institutions is building awareness among the residents of both cities that culture is a shared value; it is what unites and enriches us. The potential of Cieszyn and Český Těšín lies in its unity. Thanks to the cooperation of cultural institutions on both sides of the border, we can count on the synergy effect and build a joint brand that will be recognisable, not only in Poland and the Czech Republic, but also in Europe. The respondents also pointed out such benefits as building mutual trust, breaking “mental borders”, transfer or exchange of knowledge and experience, the ability to use shared staff or infrastructure, which is located on the other side of the border. An undoubted benefit is the ability to exchange the audience. Tourists who visit Český Těšín can also be guided through Cieszyn by organisers, and encouraged to visit the cultural institutions that are located there.
At the same time, the respondents pointed out the weaknesses of the cross-border cooperation of cultural institutions located in Cieszyn and Český Těšín. The main barrier in cross-border cooperation is the language barrier, which, in the opinion of the respondents, undoubtedly exists. The respondents also pointed to functioning stereotypes, different perceptions of history, the continuous deficit of mutual trust, the different understanding of community and/or culture by Poles and Czechs. The weak point of cross-border cooperation is the different pace of work on both sides of the border, which can sometimes be annoying for partners on either side, and the fact that “the responsibility in the area of organisation, finances or details always lies on the Polish side”. Other aspects which were indicated included various financing options, different conditions for co-financing cultural projects for cultural institutions in both countries, as well as legal difficulties, for example, the lack of free movement for organised class trips from the Polish side to events organised on the Czech side (the need to purchase additional insurance for pupils, consent of the Board of Education).
Despite the weaknesses which were mentioned, the majority of the experts surveyed (36 out of 40 people) stated that the cooperation of cultural institutions from Cieszyn and Český Těšín is at a good level. Some respondents even claimed that there is no need to intensify it even more, although the majority of respondents recognised that the cooperation of cultural institutions should develop more extensively. Suggested areas of improvement mainly included a joint cultural education, a joint Polish-Czech promotion of the organised cultural events, a joint calendar of events, or shared public transport. Attention was also paid to better coordination of cross-border activities. Currently, coordination takes place mainly at national levels (separately on the Polish and Czech side). There is no coordination at the transnational, cross-border level.