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From 5th to 9th of July took place the “Slot Art Festival” in Lubiąż, a very small town 50 km from Wrocław.

Slot is an atypical festival where you can find art, music, sports and so many different things that you won’t be able to get bored and everything is surrounded by a relaxed atmosphere thanks also to the wonderful Monastery dated back to the XII century on which it takes place and the surrounding green field where the visitors can camping.

There are many activities and amenities that could be helpful for people to discover their talents, passions or just to be informed and have a good time.

Just to name a few, the workshops this year where about recycling art, learning to play an instrument, different type of dance, theatre and juggling exercises. The seminars were as well so different from each other varying from religion topics to business, nutritionist tips, literature and many more.

There where places where people could meet and share ideas such as the “NGO breakfast” for people involved in the Third sector in Poland and some tent (such as “the Different cup of Tea” tent) where to have a warm drink, meet new friends and have the possibility of discussing with them about life, cooking, travels and whatever you were willing to share.

One of the area of the festival was specifically dedicated to the possibility for Association to present themselves and for people to get informed. This area was called “Social Initiatives Fair” and it was a big information point about associations of different kind such as Emergency, RCWIP, Nomada, Steiger International, Związek Stowarzyszeń Polska Zielona Sieć (Green Net) and so many other. This area of the festival was important to encourage an active involvement of the citizen in the society.

RCWIP (Regionalne Centrum Wspierania Inicjatyw Pozarządowych) too was there, we had some information books and leaflets and as well a poster where people could write what they were thinking, where they wanted to go and what they do like. Was nice and interesting to read the answer as people where really positive about expressing their will of meeting new people and enjoying their life.

There was also a tend where to watch documentary or movies, this year the choice was for “Up the Yangtze” a dramatic feature documentary film on life inside modern China and many other such as “Yes Men Fix the World”, “Hydrozagadka” and “Na yek Tavahom” (“Not an Illusion”); all connected with social and historical matters, forcing the viewer to consider the State of modern man.

Also the music was for all tastes, besides the main stage there was a Reggae tent, an Hard Core Punk club, a Disco club and an Unplugged stage.

Really nice was also the area dedicated to sport such as climbing, badminton and so many others activities.

It’s due specifying that it is said that Slot is only for religious people, but actually it is not, is organized by Christians from all over Poland, but it's not a festival directed at Christians. One of their goal is to tell people about religion but is a freedom of the visitors deciding on which workshop or speech to take part, nobody will force anyone and of course you can enjoy art and music weather you are a believer or not.

The Festival is in a safe place, in was full of young people that there can have the possibility of living five days by knowing new friends, share ideas, get informed about social commitment and go back home more consciousness and open minded.

For more information about Slot Art Festival 2011 you can go to the web site www.slot.art.pl, there you will also find the complete Guide Book so that if you haven’t been this year you might have an idea of what to do the next!