As part of the activities to mark the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland is hosting the exhibition A Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland’s Heritage at the Atrium of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta.

The exhibition was inaugurated by President Edward Fenech Adami, in the presence of Jerzy Chmielewski, Ambassador of Poland, and Michael Fenech, chairman of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity. Distinguished guests, including Polish residents in Malta, attended the official opening, and witnessed a taste of Poland’s unique heritage on film.

“The Polish-Lithuanian Union, which existed until late 18th century – which we for the purpose of this exhibition, call Commonwealth – was an extraordinary state in terms of political, religious and cultural criteria that had no counterpart in European history. Visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to become acquainted with the traditions from Lithuanian, Jewish, German, Islamic, French, Ruthenian, Armenian and Italian origins that played an important role in our history,” said Mr Chmielewski.

A Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland’s Heritage is an international educational exhibition which presents the history of tolerance and coexistence of various ethnic groups in the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Common-

wealth.

The multi-media presentation at the Atrium consists of 10 documentaries carried out by the National Library in Warsaw in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Each presentation features different traditions and collections of precious literary works. The documentaries are narrated by distinguished speakers, such as Professor Shevah Weiss in the Jewish spot and Professor Norman Davies, who gives a short talk about Polish Commonwealth’s history.

A piano recital by the pianist Pawe Mazurkiewicz from Poland preceded the opening of the exhibition. He performed works by Bach, Chopin, Scriabin, Grieg, Gershwin and Debussy.

Prizewinner of the prestigious Swiss music prize, Prix Credit Suisse – Jeunes Solistes 2003, Pawel Mazurkiewicz was born in Warsaw and graduated with distinction from the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw in 2000. In 2004 he graduated also with distinction and with Eduard Tschumi Music Prize from the University of Arts in Bern. He is currently assistant professor of the Piano class at the University of Arts in Bern, Switzerland. He has started composing, arranging and performing jazz music as an addition to his classical repertoire.

Valletta is the second capital after Rome where the exhibition is being presented. The multimedia collection will be touring France, Holland, Turkey and other European countries.

A Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland’s Heritage is organised by the Embassy of Poland with the support of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, and is open till 20 July.