Year 2020

Rampa
Most of 2020 was dedicated to moving into a new headquarters— a renovated warehouse ramp located near the train station in Goleniów. Renovation began in October 2019, with the building planned for completion by the end of September 2020. To adapt Rampa into a modern performance venue, the Municipality of Goleniów secured funds from the Regional Operational Program, while Teatr Brama, under the auspices of the Goleniów Cultural Center, developed the RegioActive project funded by the Interreg V A program.

Rampa was designed not only as a home for Brama but as a multifunctional cultural space. Technically owned by the Goleniów Cultural Center, the venue also hosts events organized by the Goleniów library (which, under Anita Jurewicz’s directorship, hosts plays, concerts, and meetings with famous Polish authors) and the Rock Hard Ride Free Association (a group of heavy music enthusiasts planning to bring rock bands to the venue). Additionally, the nearby old water tower, named “Twierdza Design,” will house the Goleniów Scout Troop (ZHP), the Rock Hard Ride Free Association’s office, Teatr Brama’s archive, and a recording studio.

The building was planned to address Teatr Brama’s operational challenges: two halls (a rehearsal hall and a theater hall), office space for workstations (replacing cramped spaces like a converted dressing room or main office couches), storage space for costumes and props (which previously had to be stored in various locations across Goleniów), and a completely new technical infrastructure to support more complex performances. Despite many challenges during renovation, all issues were resolved, and the team eagerly anticipated its new home, already familiar to them from past years.

The Pandemic
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Poland. The government responded promptly by imposing an almost complete lockdown, which effectively slowed the virus’s spread. Much of this success was due to the Polish people, who minimized personal contacts and stayed at home. Teatr Brama also closed its doors for two months but continued working online. The lack of cultural events provided an opportunity to tackle smaller tasks that had been postponed. These included reorganizing the theater’s archive, considering remote ways to present Brama’s artistic work, and analyzing the planned opening of Rampa in November 2020. Additionally, volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps, together with Jennifer Crissey, created a small Instagram project called “Touching Times.”

This period was also used for rest and spending time with family. Toward the end of the lockdown, members of the theater took several bike trips to nearby villages— an activity unlikely during the usual schedule of shows and events.

Archive
Work on Teatr Brama’s archive began in January with the idea of organizing nearly 25 years of history. Everything from the paper chronicle was digitized, a new archiving system was developed with the help of experienced archivists from the Theater Institute in Warsaw, files from various portable drives were collected and organized, old photographs were scanned, and the “Yellow Notebook,” a performance log maintained by Daniel since 1996, was fully transcribed into a spreadsheet.

The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage launched a new program, “Culture on the Web,” to which Teatr Brama applied, addressing the challenge of conducting cultural activities online and archiving institutional work. Collaboration with the Theater Institute inspired a series of online workshops for artists and cultural groups. The same project also provided funding for a new website (part of what you are reading now) and a dedicated file server, facilitating work both in the new venue and remotely from anywhere.

This Memory Avenue grew out of the archival work, presenting what a group of people with a shared vision, passion for creativity, and dedication can achieve when they pour their hearts and minds into their work.

RegioActive
The RegioActive project continues Teatr Brama’s 15-year partnership with Schloss Bröllin in Germany. The project involves collaboration with local communities, similar to activities from the CARAVAN NEXT initiative, expanded with a cross-border context. Participating artists, six from Poland and six from Germany, mentor groups in West Pomerania (Poland) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Germany), helping them create artistic events in any form— theater, dance, music, visual arts, or crafts, depending on group preferences.

Each Polish group is paired with a German counterpart, forming tandems to create small artistic festivals showcasing their workshop creations. The project culminates in two major festivals in Goleniów and Bröllin, presenting all participating groups and their work.

The project also includes investments: Bröllin plans roof repairs for one of its manor barns, while Brama equips Rampa with technical resources omitted in the Municipality’s ROP-funded project. Additionally, Brama proposed creating “Mobile Cultural Containers” as portable art studios for project activities.

SET 3.0 – Bramat and Łaknienia Festivals for Opening Rampa
The SET 3.0 project integrates cultural education with the Bramat Theater Meetings and Łaknienia Theater Festival, encouraging Goleniów residents to engage in local cultural life, take grassroots initiatives, and appreciate arts and culture. Participants not only attend events but are also involved in organizational work, gaining experience in technical, logistical, and promotional roles.

In 2020, both festivals marked the opening of Rampa Kultura as a cultural venue. Due to pandemic restrictions, the project was modified for online implementation in December 2020. High-quality theatrical and musical events were presented digitally.

How? For Whom? Why? Online Creation Education
This project addressed the need to develop skills in online creation and archiving. When cultural activities were disrupted by the pandemic, virtual contact became the only option. Many theaters, including Teatr Brama, realized they lacked the expertise, materials, and technical capacity to communicate effectively with audiences online. This project included online training sessions for cultural workers, creators, and artists interested in creating valuable online content.

ETNO West Pomerania – In Search of Musical Identity
Led by Teatr Brama’s band, this project explored the forgotten musical heritage of West Pomerania, drawing inspiration from a 1950s orchestra in Bolechowo. The musicians aim to craft an original sound while honoring the region’s legacy. The project culminated in an online concert, “Rediscovered Sounds,” available on YouTube.