Nomination of the Personal Development Scientific Circle for the StRuNa 2025 Competition

The project “Art in Action(s)” is an artistic initiative carried out in the 2024/2025 academic year by the Personal Development Scientific Circle at the Cracow University of Economics. It is a multidimensional and extensive undertaking aimed at promoting culture and the arts among students, young people, and the academic community. As part of the project, a series of cultural events in the broadly understood field of performative arts was organized, along with artistic workshops and outreach activities.

The project was designed in such a way that the participating members of the Scientific Circle could gradually develop their artistic skills—starting with trainings and workshops, then taking part in short stage forms (improvisation games and theatrical miniatures), and finally performing in a full-length, professionally produced theatrical spectacle at the Ludwik Solski Theatre in Tarnów. Additionally, the spectacular culmination of last year’s edition of Art in Action(s) was the group’s participation in a competition for amateur theatre ensembles in Stalowa Wola and a performance at the local Community Cultural Center.

The project had an interdisciplinary character. Its implementation involved diverse artistic techniques (dramatic acting, singing, dance, scriptwriting, visual arts, and other visual practices).

The initiative reached audiences across various social and age groups (Impro Evenings regularly gathered around 100 spectators; the main performance reached approximately 350 people in total; other events and workshops attracted from a dozen to several dozens of participants).

The project team consisted of 14 members:

Project Coordinator – Tomasz Szeląg

Project Members:

Aleksandra Mielecka
Łukasz Baruś
Zuzanna Szostok
Kamila Kot
Daria Kowalik
Gabriela Pałach
Maria Sobieraj
Mateusz Stawiarski
Szymon Leśniak
Mateusz Zawiła
Maciej Iwasiów
Damian Szwagierczak
Daniel Czubak

During the project implementation, the team collaborated with numerous partners and individuals (including J. Tofil, M. Lalik, the Ludwik Solski Theatre in Tarnów, the theatre group “Szklana Maska”, WOM Action Studio, and the Grota 2 Club).

Art in Action(s) promoted culture and artistic expression, encouraging Kraków students to engage in various forms of creativity. In an accessible way, it addressed interests, passions, emotional states, as well as difficulties and uncertainties present in the everyday life of the younger generation. The key component of this year’s edition—the performance “Hey Siri! I Need Help” by Martyna Lalik, directed by Natalia Garncarczyk and Tomasz Szeląg—explores the theme of young people’s loneliness and their dependence on technology. At the same time, the performance enters into a dialogue with the perspectives of 19th-century Polish Romanticism, juxtaposing them with the realities of contemporary life.

Meanwhile, the open Impro Evenings provide a space for free and joyful self-expression—not only for members of the Scientific Circle but for any interested student or guest. Most performances and theatrical miniatures presented during these events have a comedic or tragicomic character, making culture and the arts accessible and engaging.

StRuNa is the most competitive contest for student research groups in Poland. On average, 33 teams compete for a single award.

The competition is organized by the independent non-governmental organization “Student Support Fund” Foundation. It forms part of a larger public initiative co-financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The competition awards individual projects in several categories: