Crystals of Memory | Festival of Forgotten Cultures

Did you know that one of the first sugar refineries in Poland was actually established in Bydgoszcz? Until recently, the sugar industry was a very important sector of the economy and social life in Kujawy and Pomerania.

See how sugar refineries shaped cultural life in various towns across our region.

This year’s edition of the Festival of Forgotten Cultures is dedicated to the sugar refineries of Kujawy and Pomerania. Under the theme “Crystals of Memory,” we will explore the history and social heritage built up over decades around the sugar refineries in Chełmża and Unisław.

“Crystals of Memory” is a story about people, work, and the community that formed around sugar factories—places that over the years were more than just workplaces. Sugar factories were something more—they served as centers of cultural and social life, shaping the identity of entire generations of residents in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.

During the Festival, we will bring memories to life, attempt to rebuild old bonds, and remind ourselves of the significant impact sugar factories had on local history. “Crystals of Memory” will not only save these stories from oblivion but also breathe new life into them—engaging audiences and connecting the past with the present.

The Festival of Forgotten Cultures is sponsored by the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Government

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