Cieszyńska wspólnota kulturalna i ciężar niewidzialnej granicy

Abstract

The culture in Cieszyn stems from a thousand‑year‑ long history. What has been of key significance for the current shape of the whole cultural offer of this town was its division into the Polish and Czech part a hundred years ago as well as its demographic changes. Despite joining the Schengen Area (free moving across the states) by both countries, the cultural activities which could result in building a common cultural capital joining both sides of the town, face many barriers. Some of them are of socio‑ demographic nature (due to both the ethnic composition of the Czech part and the identification of common goals). However, the most serious problem is the border lingering on the mental level and the lack of thinking about the town as a whole.