Children Participate!

Warsaw has rapidly become a place where ‘everyday multiculturalism’ is actively practised. More than 12,000 children from Ukraine and over 3,000 from Belarus attend schools in the capital; in public spaces we hear Polish spoken with an accent more frequently than at any time in the last 80 years. Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian cultural circles in Warsaw are very active, yet they still operate more often in parallel rather than by intersecting. There is a lack of data that would help describe and better understand the styles, needs and challenges associated with the participation of children with migration experience in Warsaw’s cultural life. As a result, we are unable to understand the role culture has to play in supporting harmonious coexistence in a multicultural city and in counteracting the second-generation migrant syndrome.

1. Between June and December 2025 together with the Badania i Działania company we conducted:

• an analysis and mapping out of cultural offerings in Warsaw available to the studied group (Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian cultural entities);
• a literature review devoted to the situation of children and youth with migratory experience and to second generation issues;
• two group interviews with children of Ukrainian and Belarusian origin with experience of migration, currently living in Warsaw;
• 10 in-depth individual interviews with Belarusian and Ukrainian parents who have lived in Poland for at least a year since 2020;
• 14 in-depth individual interviews with representatives of Belarusian, Ukrainian and Polish cultural entities offering events addressed to Belarusian and/or Ukrainian children living in Warsaw; and moreover, one group interview with instructors who work with non-Polish children at Warsaw’s cultural centres;
• two group interviews with teachers from state primary schools in which Ukrainian and Belarusian children constitute a considerable percentage of pupils;
• On 5 December 2025  we presented the results of this stage of our research at WOK Lab. This served as a starting point for a round-table discussion with those linked to the subject, though each had a very different perspective on it.

2. Together with the Ochota Theatre, we carried out a photographic and diary-based research project involving children with migration and refugee backgrounds, in which they reflect on how they spend their free time in Warsaw.

• The photo exhibition, created by children from Ukraine and Belarus who use their photographs to show how they spend their free time in Warsaw, was on display at WOK Lab until 5 March 2026.
• The photography exhibition on display at the Ochota Theatre until 16 April 2026.
• We took part in a panel discussion entitled ‘Creating a place. How to support young people with migration experience?’, at the Ochota Theatre on 11 March 2026. The discussion was attended by researchers specialising in migration and people who work with youth on a daily basis.
• On 13 March 2026 the Ochota Theatre hosted the premiere of the play “You’ve Got Something in Your Teeth” (directed by Liuba Ilnytska), which was inspired by the findings of our study.

3. As part of our summary of research activities in 2025, we presented the ‘Children Participate’ report, which outlines the key activities and findings of the study.
The report is available here.

In 2026, we are expanding our understanding of the scale, geography, practices and forms of cultural participation among children and young people living in Warsaw. The analysis will be based on the following components of the study:

1. An art and research competition (April-June 2026) aimed at pupils in Years 4-8 at primary schools in Warsaw. Participants will be asked to take photographs of locations and describe activities related to their engagement with culture.

The aim of the competition is to explore the types, practices and venues of cultural activities among young people in Years 4-8 of primary school, to examine the barriers and factors that encourage participation in culture, define the role of institutional culture in the lives of young people in Warsaw, identify the influence of others on the choice of venues and activities, and analyse emotions associated with selected venues and cultural experiences.

The competition will be announced in April, with a submission deadline in mid-May 2026. The results of the competition will be announced in June 2026.

2. Field assessment (in cooperation with the Maria Grzegorzewska University – APS) (May-June 2026)

The activities will take place during Children’s Day events organised by public and commercial organisations in various locations across Warsaw. They will include workshops in the form of an outdoor game, during which children will create stories about their own cultural experiences, working in concentric circles from their homes, through their neighbourhoods and districts, right up to the city as a whole. This will enable the mapping of the ‘proxemics’ of cultural participation.

3. Research on cultural practices (in cooperation with the SWPS University) (March-June 2026)

The research will be conducted using qualitative methods in conjunction with an analysis of existing data. Its main aim will be to explore the ways in which 16-19 year olds engage with culture. The study will involve an analysis of practices such as reading, watching films and listening to music.

4. Research on Ukrainian and Belarusian cultural circles in Warsaw (April-September 2026)

This analysis of cultural offerings created and organised by members of Ukrainian and Belarusian communities in Warsaw will provide a better understanding of the scale, geographical scope and diversity of events and activities.

5. Research on institutional participation (August-November 2026)

This quantitative and qualitative study aims to investigate the scale, frequency, practices, barriers and enabling factors relating to the participation of children and young people in institutional culture in Warsaw.

6. Presentation of research conclusions during the Cultural Education Forum (November 2026)

The results of all components of the study conducted in 2026 will be presented at the Cultural Education Forum in November 2026.