Villa Decius
Kraków
Villa Decius is a place of a rich tradition. Its history has been intertwined with the history of Poland and of grand families, making the Villa a witness of grandiose events, sublime times and historic transformations. Over the centuries, Villa Decius has had times of triumph and glory, but it has also been damaged and forgotten. However, it has never lost its spirit and the original intention of its founder, Justus Decius, to make the Villa a venue of the exchange of thoughts and the haven of tolerance and freedom.
In 1996, after several years of revitalization, Villa Decius was opened to visitors again. Thanks to the efforts of the Municipality of Krakow, the palace regained its former splendour. The Association which has managed Villa Decius wanted to create a meeting venue for the representatives of different areas of science and culture, nationalities and interests, as well as for the exchange of thoughts and search for creative activity. Villa Decius has become an arena of cultural dialogue and promotion of plurality and tolerance in the public life, paying particular attention to the rights and culture of national and ethnic minorities.
One of the pillars of the renewed Villa’s mission are residential programs for writers, translators, literary critics, and scriptwriters, which have been running continuously for 25 years. Thanks to them, Villa Decius has gained the position of one of the most important residential centres in Poland and Central Europe.
Among the residency programs currently implemented at Villa Decius are:
– Visegrad Literary Residences (organized by the Villa Decius Association)
– Scriptwriting Scholarships (organized by the Villa Decius Association)
– International Residency Program of Krakow UNESCO City of Literature (organized by KBF in partnership with the Villa Decius Institute for Culture.
– International Cities of Refuge Network Program ICORN (organized by the Villa Decius Institute for Culture)
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