On January 25th, the 3rd edition of the Night of Culture took place at the Collegium Maius. This year’s main theme was the Five Elements.
Elemental Adventures
The Night of Culture event serves as a showcase of the interests and endeavors of emerging cultural animators. Held at Collegium Maius, the venue was transformed with themed decorations evoking Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit. Attendees experienced a variety of engaging activities tailored to each elemental theme throughout the building. Highlights included a captivating live-action role-playing game (LARP) featuring encounters with historical figures like Copernicus, discussions on the impact of true crime media on audiences, and explorations of Chinese culinary traditions. Each of Five Elements drawn significant interest, as the event has offered a rich cultural exploration and entertainment.
First, we visited the „Emotions Enchanted in Scents”, a chill-out zone. It was designed as a sanctuary from the stresses of everyday life, where attendees could relax on loungers or bean bags amidst the aroma of candles and incense placed throughout the room. Background music, along with the decor, added to the ambiance of connecting with the Elements. Space could have been found by following the scents that permeated the floor.
A Taste of Night City’s Cyberpunk Elixirs
For those thirsty for drinks and seeking casual conversations in a cyberpunk atmosphere, the Bar Night City was the perfect spot. Stocked with numerous non-alcoholic beverages, expert mixologists worked their magic, transforming them into mystical concoctions. We had the chance to sample one from the array of elixirs available; the one we chose was based on tomato juice with a distinct aroma of Tabasco. It was sharp and warming, perfect for late-night gatherings.
We also had a conversation with Dagmara Maciejewska, the spokesperson for the Student LARP Club. She shared insights into „The Disputes of Celestial Bodies” and other club’s activities. Participants in the LARP were dressed to highlight the characteristic traits of their roles. Various imaginative roles awaited interaction from those eager to delve deeper into the initiative.
Furthermore, at the end of one of the building corridors, visitors could stumble upon a dark cave adorned with ribbons, and shimmering with a blue hue. In this setting inspired by a maritime lagoon, guests could take photos against the backdrop of props, decorations, and soap bubbles. Towards the back of the room, workshops on drawing were held at a table adorned with candles.
Lastly, throughout the evening, guests could also participate in a variety of other events scheduled from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Fortune-telling booths and stand-up comedy from „prison” were among the many attractions on offer. These were just a few highlights of what we experienced. The Night of Culture at Maius enticed many eager participants to wander the corridors enveloped in a cosmic-magical atmosphere well into the night.
You can read more about the NCU activities here.
Read the Polish version of the artcile by Herbert Ochimowski here.