"1980. One Tribe" open-air exhibition is aimed at recalling the events of August 1980 and exceptional sixteen months of "Solidarity". It was the beginning of the system transition in Poland which occurred in 1989. The historic facts that happened in West Pomerania and, particularily, in Szczecin will be recalled against the bckground of national upheavals.
They include, above all, the great strike at Adolf Warski shipyard, during which Inter-Entreprise Strike Committee was created, which was supported by over 300 enterprises of the region. Szczecin became, besides Gdańsk, the main striking centre in Poland. In both cities, the first postulate was creating independent self-governed trade unions. The negotiations in both Szczecin and Gdańsk were held by governmental committees.
Their members were forced tro concede with the basic issues, although they had seemed to be unchangeable since the end of World War II, when communist system was imposed on Poland.
The exhibition will remain breaking the feeling of marasm, hopelessness and fear of the future and emerging economical crisis that were present among Polish society. August 1980 showed what Poles really wanted; it showed that the society was yearning for normal life with accordance to democratic rules where everyone may express their opinions, and for life in truth.
It was the time of the birth of the civic society which made bloodshedless revolution and transition possible. Polish changes initiated in August 1980 were the beginning of a chain of events that nine years later led to the fall of the Iron Curtain. All those processes were contributed to, participated or initiated by the citizens of West Pomerania and Szczecin.
"1980. One Tribe" Open-Air Exhibition
August 18th – October 31st 2020
The National Museum in Szczecin - The Dialogue Centre Upheavals
pl. Solidarności 1
Exhibition Curator: Agnieszka Kuchcińska-Kurcz
Curatorial ooperation: Aneta Popławska-Suś, Paula Sendra
Photo selection and content: Agnieszka Kuchcińska-Kurcz
Historical review and consultation: Prof. Jan Skórzyński
Graphic design: Filip Bylak
Proofreading: Wiktoria Klera-Olszak, Bartosz Zasieczny
Organizers: The National Museum in Szczecin – The Dialogue Centre Upheavals, West-Pomeranian Marshal's Office