Issues of death, illness and adversity for a long time weren’t present in art created for children – similarly sex, domestic abuse or parents’ divorce. Nevertheless, the last decade has brought changes on this field and more and more often authors of books for children reach for the taboo subjects. Mostly Scandinavian authors and illustrators tend to present these subjects, but it can also be noticed at Austrian, Swiss or Portugese authors and artists.

The Danish Cultural Institute has initiated a project that should help to answer the difficult question: how to reach for the taboo subjects in contacts with children. To cooperate we have invited different European cultural institutes and embassies associated in EUNIC as well as publishing houses in order to create a space for a conversation and presentation of pieces not running away from the taboo. The events – exhibitions of books and illustrations, lectures, workshops, meetings with authors and illustrators are scheduled for three Polish cities: Gdansk, Warsaw and Poznań and will last more than two months.

Participation in all meetings and workshops is free.

PROGRAMME for Gdansk
venue: Baltic Sea Cultural Centre, 33/35 Korzenna Str.

1-16 October

• exhibition of books and illustrations Taboo in art for children

15 October

• 1.00 pm – visual arts workshops for children (5-12 years)
• 1.00 pm – A book as a way of talking with children about taboo subjects – lecture of Pernilla Stalfelt
• 3.00 pm – official closing of the exhibition

16 October

• 11.00 am – workshops for children (5-12 years)
• 11.00 am – lecture of Ulf Nilsson (for adults)
• 1.00 pm – A thing that terrifies me most is… - workshops for children with Ulf Nilsson
• 1.00 pm – Childhood vs. culture and ideology - lecture of dr Małgorzata Cackowska

Idea and coordination: Danish Cultural Institute
Co-organisers: Embassy of Finland, Austrian Forum for Culture, Instituto Camões, Pro Helvetia, Zamek Cultural Centre in Poznań, Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk