The second edition of Art Biennale in Katowice has breakthrough character. After the debut of this art event in 2007 Biennale from a nationwide event was transformed into an international event, within which next to Polish artists the most interesting creators from European countries shall be presented. This edition of the Biennale shall contribute to extension of cooperation between Sektor Foundation and Gallery and galleries from Central and Eastern Europe.

        The Second Biennale of Art European Constitution. What creates Europe? asks a question as to values and visions which into European cultures may bring the youngest members of this community– states belonging to Mitteleuropa. In this context the place of presentation receives exceptional meaning. Katowice, although received city rights in the second half of the 19th century has rich history, similarly to city organisms, with which it creates economic, political and cultural metropolis. Exceptionality of this area was marked in 1920 when Autonomous Silesian Voivodship was established, which possessed its own Parliament and treasury as well as exceptionally wide scope of decision freedom covering the most important fields of political, economic and cultural life of the region. The way to the autonomy was marked by Silesian Uprisings (1919, 1920, 1921), during which the Silesians supported belonging to Poland, however, under special rights. In this period the part of the Upper Silesia inhabited in majority by Polish population originating, however, from various national areas with a small group of Germans and small percentage of Jews, remained under the influence of special work ethos, respect for family values and religion shaped within mining culture. This ethos cemented inhabitants of Silesia despite many changes of national status of these areas, depending in particular moments of history on different state organisms. In the second half of the 20th century this area twice faced fight for this ethos joined with creative development of the identity. For the first time it happened after the end of the World War II, when Katowice metropolis was covered with the policy conducted in relation to so called Regained Lands, in this period a large number of Poles from Lvov flew in, among others, to Bytom, and subsequent waves of workers started coming from various regions of Poland to Katowice, who were supposed to build mosaic society of Silesia. The second significant moment of history took place after 1989, when this region faced protection of their values in relation to changing culture and introduction of new economic solutions. The history of Katowice in the 20th century is the history of the city built by the mosaic of cultures, customs and points of view, these are identity, national and economic choices in which as if in the lens complicated essence of history of contemporary Europe is concentrated.
        This variety and complicated history of Katowice cause that this is a good place to initiate a discussion about the new concept of Mitteleuropa. This time it will not be perceived as the background for German economy – as it took place in the thinking of Friedrich Naumann – or the last resort for falling Austro-Hungarian Monarchy or treated as the area which has common history behind, significantly different from the remaining part of post-war Europe, simultaneously territory, on which all the time one had to ask questions about one’s identity and make attempts at its negotiation in relation to politicaly imposed solutions.
        We hope that prepared Biennale will be a significant and noticeable voice in discussion about a new way, which should be followed by European identity perceived as an interesting mosaic, not as a unified standard.