The city of Kielce has announced plans to renovate the former synagogue as a cultural and educational center focused on “common Polish-Jewish heritage, intercultural dialogue, openness and tolerance.” Working with the Association of Polish Architects, it has launched a design competition for the project.
Kielce is known for the post-WW2 pogrom in July 1946, when a mob attacked a building housing Holocaust survivors, killing 42 Jews and wounding more than 40.
The city owns the former synagogue, which was long used to house the state archives but is now disused. It is listed as a provincial historic monument and is subject to special protection.
The announcement estimated the cost of the project at 22,5 million zloty (€5.3 million), with 20 million zloty coming from co-financing from European funds.
“We have a unique opportunity to renovate one of the most recognizable and today completely unused buildings in the centre of Kielce – the vast majority for European funds,” Mayor Agata Wojda said in the announcement. “We want this place to serve the Kielceans, but also to become a popular point on the tourist map of the city.”
Results of the competition will be announced April 22. Cash prizes will be award for the best entries, and the first prize winner will be invited to work with the city non implementation.
Click the link below to see full details of the competition: