Report on the 17th IOV European Scientific Conference of Folk Culture “Anthropology in the Borderland – Borderlands in Anthropology” and the 30th Anniversary of the Centre for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Silesia – October 22–23, 2025, Faculty of Arts and Educational Science of the University of Silesia in Cieszyn, Poland
On October 22–23, 2025, the scientific conference “Anthropology in the Borderland – Borderlands in Anthropology” took place at the Cieszyn premises of the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science of the University of Silesia. The event combined the 17th IOV (International Organization of Folk Art) European Scientific Conference on Folk Culture and the 30th Anniversary of the Centre for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Silesia. The international and interdisciplinary nature of the conference created a unique platform for in-depth reflection on the essence of borderland as analytical category in contemporary cultural anthropology and European ethnology.
The conference gathered distinguished representatives of the academic community from Poland and abroad, including active members of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV/UNESCO), an organization of crucial importance for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. It was organized by the IOV/UNESCO Science and Research Commission for Europe, the Centre for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Silesia, The Polish Section of IOV and the Polish Ethnological Society Cieszyn Branch. The international standing of the conference was ensured by participation of members of the Steering Committee of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe, headed by its chair Professor Anna Brzozowska-Krajka from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Their participation underscored close connections between Polish humanities and the global IOV/UNESCO research network and the Cieszyn Centre’s status as a vital reference point in European studies of folk culture.
The conference was officially opened by members of the Steering Committee of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe: the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science of the University of Silesia, professor Katarzyna Marcol, and the Deputy Director of the Institute of Cultural Science of this University, professor Kinga Czerwińska, as well as by IOV-World Secretary General Fabrizio Cattaneo, and Chair of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe professor Anna Brzozowska-Krajka. The IOV-World Secretary General congratulated the Cieszyn ethnology centre on the achievements of the 30 years of its activity and underlined its growing importance in IOV. He also presented the mission and aims of the International Organization of Folk Art IOV/UNESCO in promoting intercultural dialogue and safeguarding traditional forms of artistic expression on the global scale.
The proceedings took place in three parallel sections. Section I groupped mostly papers presented by IOV members: professor Anna Brzozowska-Krajka (“New rooting: identity profiles of Tatra highlander emigrants/immigrants to the USA”); professor Oksana Mykytenko from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe (“‘Border’ themes in European ethnological discourse: the problem of definitions and content”, in which she addressed some fundamental issues in defining the concept of borderland in European ethnological discourse, pointing to the ambiguity of this term and its diverse applications in research practice); professor Larysa Vakhnina, also representing the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe (“The issue of preserving intangible cultural heritage in the border region in the face of military challenges”, raising very topical and pressing issue of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in border regions affected by armed conflicts; her presentation, related to the dramatic context of contemporary events in Ukraine, enriched the conference with a strongly humanistic dimension through presenting anthropology as a socially and politically engaged discipline); doctor Aija Jansone from The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia and the IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe (“Cultural functioning through handicraft skills. Crochet example,” in which she demonstrated mechanisms of cultural functioning of traditional handicraft practices and skills as conveying identity and cultural memory); professor Dorota-Świtała-Trybek from University of Opole („Cuisine in the borderland – the borderland in the kitchen”); doctor Katarzyna Ceklarz („Between creation and commodification of the cultural heritage of Podhale as influenced by mass tourism”), doctor Tymoteusz Król from Ostravska Univerzita and Polish Academy of Sciences („Symbolic violence in narration of ‘Sprachinselfforschung’ in texts concerning Wymysou/Wilamowice and Bielitz/Bielsko”).
The proceedings in Section I were concluded with an open meeting of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe conducted by its chair profesor Anna Brzozowska-Krajka. She outlined the objectives of the Commission and plans for the future, including the 18th IOV European Conference of Folk Culture „Acting models for protection and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH)” to take place in Vilnius Lithuania in 2027 and to be organized by professor Rimantas Astrauskas (member of the Steering Committee of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe) and his team.
The subsequent thematic sessions of the Cieszyn conference covered a wide spectrum of issues concerning the anthropology of identity, the influence of migration on folk culture, and the methodology of borderland studies. Apart from the conference speakers, the participating Polish representatives of IOV included professor Katarzyna Marcol, professor Kinga Czerwińska and doctor Ewa Kozik from the University of Silesia (members of the organizing committee), as well as professor Wiesław Krajka from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, a long-time former IOV-World Executive Secretary for Central and Eastern Europe.
The paper presentations by Polish speakers, academics and practitioners-museologists, rooted in the native research tradition, enriched the debate with local and regional perspectives and illustrated the uniqueness of Polish experiences of the cultural borderland. The intellectual merit of the conference was manifested primarily in its interdisciplinary nature and synthesis of diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. The participants addressed fundamental questions regarding the epistemological status of the borderland, its functioning in fieldwork and the heuristic potential for contemporary anthropology. Particularly fruitful was the debate on the relationship between material and intangible aspects of cultural heritage in borderlands and the role of everyday practices in constructing cross-border identities. The guest papers, especially those referring to dramatic military challenges, prompted participants to reflect on the responsibility of science in the face of contemporary humanitarian crises and the necessity for anthropology to engage in actions aimed at protecting endangered heritage.
An important dimension of the conference was activity of students from the Centre for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology who participated in the sessions not only as co-organizers but also as listeners. Their presence and lively participation in the panel discussions attested to the high level of education at the Cieszyn Centre and ability to link theory with research practice. They had a unique opportunity of direct contact with eminent scholars, which undoubtedly enriched their research perspective and opened new opportunities for international academic cooperation. For many students, participation in the conference served as an inspiration to undertake their own research projects related to issues of the cultural borderland.
On the second day of the conference, as a side event, IOV guests participated in a study tour of Wilamowice under the academic guidance of doctor Tymoteusz Król. Wilamowice, a village with unique linguistic and cultural heritage, served as a fascinating example of ethnic enclave and an excellent illustration of the borderland issues discussed during the proceedings. The excursion participants had an opportunity to visit the local museum, meet representatives of the community, and hear stories about their past and contemporary challenges associated with preserving the endangered Wymysorys language. This study tour, combining educational and fieldwork experiences, enriched the conference with a practical perspective and demonstrated the complexity of cultural processes occurring in small linguistic and ethnic borderland settlements. Doctor Król, known for his research on ethnic communities, provided a competent and insightful scientific commentary which skillfully situated these local phenomena within broader anthropological context.
The celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Centre for Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Silesia in Cieszyn, combined with the 17th IOV European Scientific Conference of Folk Culture, provided an opportunity not only to summarize three decades of this Centre’s intensive scientific and research activity but also to outline new directions for development. The conference definitely contributed to strengthening a leading role of the Cieszyn Centre in Central European research into cultural borderland issues. The international nature of the event and the participation of distinguished IOV representatives confirmed that the Cieszyn Centre is a recognized and indispensable point of reference in global anthropological research, and its scientific output enjoys broad recognition in the international academic community.
We owe a debt of gratitude to this conference organizers and participants, especially those who presented papers and took part in discussions upon them. “Anthropology in the Borderland – Borderlands in Anthropology” concluded successfully: it produced rich material for further theoretical reflection, new inspirations for research projects and an expansion of academic contacts. This event proved that cultural anthropology and ethnology remain vibrant and dynamically developing disciplines, capable of responding to most important challenges of the contemporary world and building bridges between different scientific and cultural traditions.
Dr Ewa Kozik
IOV Poland Youth Commission
