For the third time, we presented the “Golden Mills” – Kuyavian-Pomeranian awards for cultural animation.

This year, the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Culture Congress is held under the slogan “The future of culture – the culture of the future.” However, it is impossible to create the future of culture in isolation from the past, from cultural heritage. This is evidenced by the results of the Golden Mills – Kujawsko-Pomorskie Culture Animation Awards. Each of the award winners and each of the institutions looks boldly to the future, but at the same time cares about preserving the memory of times past by cultivating tradition.

By decision of the Chapter, composed of:

• Aneta Jędrzejewska – Deputy Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province,
• Honorata Zielińska-Szuster – Director of the Municipal Cultural Center in Dobrcz,
• Łukasz Wudarski – Director of the Provincial Center for Cultural Animation

Złote Młynki – Kujawsko-Pomorskie Culture Animation Awards in 2025 go to:

• in the Animator of the Year category – the Agnieszka Dąbrowska Award, the Piotr Całbecki Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province – Joanna Kalenik from the Brama Epok Foundation in Brodnica “for constantly reviving local history, building identity and a sense of agency among the region’s inhabitants, and creating a culture that gives a voice to those who have been forgotten,”
• in the category of Hope for Cultural Animation, an award under the honorary patronage of Elżbieta Piniewska, Chairwoman of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Assembly – Agata Zabrocka from the Wanda Rucińska Chamber Theater in Bydgoszcz “for her courage in combining dance and emotion, creating a space for authentic expression for young people, and sensitively building community through the art of movement,”
• in the Group category – DomKultury! Bydgoskie Przedmieście / UTU Foundation from Toruń “for courage in creating new forms of participation in culture, supporting social initiatives, and being the definition of contemporary cultural animation,”
• in the category of Patron of Culture – Bank Spółdzielczy in Koronowo “for many years of supporting local cultural initiatives, building partnerships for social development, and sensitivity to the needs of the artistic community,”
• for the first time this year, an award was given in the category of Culture Manager. This is also the Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province, Piotr Całbecki, and it was received by Agata Kubajka, director of the “Wahadło” Center for Culture and History in Brześć Kujawski “for consistently building an open, progressive, and friendly cultural center where residents have found their place and voice.”

By awarding the Golden Mills, we want to recognize individuals and entities working in the field of cultural animation and supporting these activities. We want to show that culture can change the world and contribute to social change.

The awards are primarily unique statuettes for the winners, created using Nina Marszałek’s original technique.

In addition to the statuettes, the awards also have a financial dimension.

The awards in the categories of Animator of the Year and Culture Manager are presented by Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province.

The award in the category of Hope for Cultural Animation was presented under the honorary patronage of Elżbieta Piniewska, Chairwoman of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Provincial Assembly.