Spaces of Art – Dance - Krakow
Art Spaces – Dance is a nationwide program supporting dance, funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance. In 2026, the program operators were selected to carry out activities in five Polish cities and regions that promote dance in artistic, educational, social, and health-oriented dimensions.
Art Spaces introduces a new quality in cultural management by proposing a modern model of cooperation and developing infrastructure for artistic and educational activities in the field of dance that impact entire regions. The program, implemented since 2020, responds to key challenges faced by the Polish dance community. In 2026–2028, alongside Białystok, Kielce, Gdańsk, and Bytom, Kraków joins the network, with Teatr KTO serving as the program’s regional operator.
The Art Spaces Dance – Kraków program grows out of the real needs of the community and was created through dialogue with artists, educators, and local organizations. Its foundation is collectivity – collaboration, the sharing of experience, and the joint creation of space for dance in the city.
The program brings together premiere performances, presentations, choreographic residencies, and educational and social activities, creating a dynamic platform for encounters between artists and audiences. It is addressed both to the professional dance community and to a wide audience – residents of Kraków and the Małopolska region, families, seniors, and people seeking a creative and health-oriented connection with movement.
The activities included in the program will take place at Teatr KTO and at partner institutions and organizations (the Krakow Dance Theatre Studio, Młyn Zabierzów, the Krakow Choreographic Centre – Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, and Kino Paradox).
Through cooperation with local artists and institutional partners, the program strengthens the community, develops new competencies, and opens contemporary dance to diverse audiences. It is an invitation to collectively create a vibrant, open ecosystem of dance culture—one that builds relationships, inspires, and permanently inscribes dance into the cultural landscape of Kraków.
The Spaces of Art – Dance programme at KTO Theatre is based on four pillars
Artistic
We support the production and presentation of performances. Through a system of artistic residencies and open calls, we provide independent creators with access to the theatre’s infrastructure, giving them space to experiment and realize their own choreographic visions.
Educational
We focus on developing competencies. We organize workshops and meetings (including Akademia Krytyxx and Krakow Dance Cinema) that help artists professionalize their practice, while enabling city residents to gain deeper, more specialized knowledge.
Social
Dance is for everyone. Our activities—family workshops, social dance events, and participatory projects (such as Open Bodies)—engage the residents of Kraków while promoting the inclusion of diverse social groups in cultural events.
Health-promoting
We promote movement as a source of wellbeing. We use dance as a tool to support both physical and mental health, highlighting its therapeutic potential (Restorative, Dance for PD).
The Spaces of Art – Dance programme is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance..
