Tokarnia once again became a place of integration – photography, theatre and the development of social competences

On 9 June 2026, Polish and foreign students, parents and teachers from Stanisław Staszic Primary School No. 1 in Kielce took part in outdoor integration workshops at the Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia.

The Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia once again became a space for meeting, integration and shared discovery of the heritage of the Świętokrzyskie region. This time, the outdoor integration workshops were attended by Polish and foreign students, parents and teachers from Stanisław Staszic Primary School No. 1 in Kielce.

The event combined regional education with practical artistic activities. Participants could explore folk culture, the architecture of the old countryside and the atmosphere of places that tell the story of everyday life of the inhabitants of the Świętokrzyskie region.

One of the important elements of the programme was a photography workshop led by Grzegorz Sideł – a well-known Świętokrzyskie photographer associated with the Kielce School of Landscape and co-founder of the Pasiak Świętokrzyski Foundation. Participants learned to look at the surrounding space through image, light, composition and detail.

During the photography activities, young people practised framing, observing the landscape, photographing architecture and details, as well as using smartphones as tools for creative documentation of reality. The workshops showed that photography can be not only a way of preserving memories, but also a tool for telling stories about a place, culture and one’s own way of seeing the world.

The programme was also enriched with theatre and psychological workshops. They were led by Dorota Anyż – actress of the “Kubuś” Puppet and Actor Theatre in Kielce, director, academic lecturer and president of the Studio TM Foundation.

The theatre activities were based on the author’s method of dramatism, involving training in ten aspects of personality: concentration, senses, speech, emotions, imagination, physicality, intellect, self-confidence, life energy and consistency. This form of work helps participants get to know themselves better, express emotions, strengthen their presence in the group and build freedom of communication.

The method of dramatism strengthens emotional sensitivity, self-confidence, assertiveness and empathy. It is particularly important when working with multicultural groups, where students from different backgrounds, cultures and languages meet. Shared theatre exercises help break down barriers, build trust and create a safe space for cooperation.

The outdoor workshops in Tokarnia showed how important it is to combine education, integration and creative activity. Photography helped participants look more attentively at their surroundings, while theatre encouraged expression, cooperation and better understanding of themselves and others.

Such activities outside the school walls support relationship-building, strengthen students’ wellbeing and help create a more open, friendly and supportive school community.