Year of creation: 1895
Domain(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship

Safeguarding measures:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education

Main countries where active:

Poland

Objectives:
Shaping conditions for the development of anthropological interests of members, popularization and support of anthropological knowledge in society.

The Society achieves its aims by:
1. Conducting researt:h and gathering materials and data concerning Polish folk culture and other peoples' cultures
2. Organizing meetings, symposia, lectures, tours related to its field of interest
3. Expressing its opinion on the status and needs of traditional and contemporary folk culture and current directions of activities in this area
4. Publishing activity in the field of ethnology and related sciences
5. Creating and maintaining collections and archives
6. Disseminating knowledge about the need for protection and conservation of ethnographic objects and cultural heritage
7. Popularizing knowledge of folk cultures
8. Liaising with other associations, scientific institutions and organizations in the country and abroad, about the same or similar nature.
Activities:
Polskie Tawarzystwo Ludoznawcze / Polish Ethnological Association (PTL afterwards) is a society of people interested in preservation and cultivation of folk culture heritage. Intangible heritage is a vital part of it. Cultural heritage has been collected and documented during fieldworks and reuslt of these acitivities has been published in the form of thousands of articles that appeared in assocation's official yearly journal "Lud" (Folk) - 93 volumes were published - hundreds of books. One of the most impressive
achievments is a publication of Collected Works of Oskar Kolberg who gathered folk songs, legends, myths and fairy tales in todays Poland, Western Ukraine and Belarus, Lithuania, Eastern Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Romania and the Balkans. So far 86 volumes has been published (62 under auspieces of PTL). Intangible heritage is systematically documented and published in Association Series
such as "Ethnograpfic Archives", "Folk Literature", "Ethnological Works", "Cultural Heritage" and "Ethnographic Works and Materials" (see below). Most members of PTL are professional ethnologists and anthropologists trained in collecting and preserving intangible cultural heritage. More than two hundreds members among work in academic institutions dealing with folk traditions.

PTE is a meber of the World Council of Anthropological Associations

Members of the Board of the Society (2008 - 2011):
Professor Michal Buchowski - President
Associate Professor Grazyna Karpinska - Vice-President
Dr. Malgorzata Michalska· Vice President
Associate Professor Teresa Smolinska - Vice President
Dr. Jerzy Adamczewski - Secretary General
Dr. Hubert Czachowski - Deputy Secretary-General
Or. Anna Weronika Brzezinska - Treasurer
Dr. Magdalena Rostworowska - Deputy Treasurer
Professor Derota Simonides
Dr. Andrzej Stawarz
Associate Professor Jan Adamowski

Recent activities:
PTL organizes yearly General Assembly Meetings and scientific conferences. The last one, 87th meeting took palce in the city of Wroclaw and the topic of the conference was: "Poles Beyond Their Homeland on the Threshold of XXI Century: Various Faces of the Polish Identity". It also co-sponsors local cultural events and scholar1y conferences related to folk cuture and cultural heritage.

List of publications:
Periodicals:
LUO - published since 1895
FOLK LITERATURE - since 1957
LODZ ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES - since 1959

Publication series:
"Ethnographic Works and Materials" - since 1934, ed. 36 volumes
"Ethnological works" - since 1947, ed. 21 volumes
"Atlas of Polish Folk Costumes" - since 1949, ed. 38 volumes
"Archives of Ethnography" - since 1951, ed. 49 volumes
"Library of Popular Science" - since 1958, issued 14 volumes
"Library of Exiles" - since 1991, ed. 23 volumes
"Comments to the Polish Ethnographic Atlas" - Since 1993, were more than 8 volumes
"Library of the Folk Literature" - since 1995, ed. 4 volumes
"Cultural Heritage" - since 1996, ed. 4 volumes
"Complete Works by Oskar Kolberg" - from 1968 to 1998, ed. 82 volumes
Cooperation:
PTL is in direct touch with local activists and folk culture practitioners thanks to it decetnralized
structure. Many members of local branches are cultural animators and participate in regional folk culture associations, folk song choirs and dance groups. They also preserve local traditions by organizing cultural events and passing down folk heritage to schoolchildren and young generation. Local PTL groups convene public lectures addresing folk culture and issues directly related to the preservation and transmition of intangible cultural heritage. Performing this task demands constant cooperation with local people, educational and political authorites as well as cultural organizations.

Membership: 697 (including 202 academic scholars)
- 18 local branches (Bialystok, Bielsko-Biala, Bytom, Ciechanow, Cieszyn, Gdansk,
Krakow, Lublin, Lodz, Mszana Oolna, Opoczno, Opole, Poznan, Torun, Warszawa,
Wrodaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora);
- Library of J. Czekanowski, Wrodaw
- Scientific Archives, Wroctaw
- Centre of Ethnographic Documentation and Infonnation, Lodz

Year of creation: 2006
Domain(s):

- traditional craftsmanship

Safeguarding measures:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization
- other

Main countries where active:

Czechia, Norway, Poland

Objectives:
The organization was established in 2006 for the promotion and development of culture, art and protection of cultural goods and tradition. lt's a leading institution in the field of basketry studies in Poland, but works actively also in other countries - primarily in Czech Republic and Norway. Its main activities are regional, national and international projects dedicated for the basket making. The base is always the ethnographic research led by anthropologists and craft instructors with the use of research questionnaire. The specificity of the work of the association is interviewing artisans during their work, what at the same time enables studying the different technical skills and sharing them with the students of workshops. The results of the conducted research is documentation in the form of books, documentary and instructional films, conferences and exhibitions.
The most important international project was Viva Basket! realized in 2014/15 with two Norwegian institutions, which led to the comparison of the situation of the cultural heritage of both countries. Since 2011, the organization was engaged in a national discussion about implementing UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Poland. The Serfenta Association has the Polish National Commission for UNESCO Certificate of Appreciation that was given in 2015.

Activities:
The Serfenta Association exists so that basketry could live. Since 2009, the organization leads ethnographic basketry research in Europe. In years 2009-2011, it realized two national projects - "On the basketry trail of the Vistula River" and "On the basketry trail of Poland" where the most important goal was to document the work of Polish basket makers. Both projects finished with a set of documented interviews, a set of documentary and how-to-do films, the popular-science publication "On the basketry trail of the Vistula River" and the exhibition "Let it weave". The publication was released a second time in 2016 with English summaries. Within these projects, the institution organized also science conferences for the society focused around the craft theme with the cooperation of Institutes of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology from The University in Poznań and Cieszyn.
The biggest and the most important international project was Viva Basket! Basket weaving as a living tradition in the context of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, realized with two Norwegians institutions in 2014/2015. The ethnographic research in both countries dedicated for the basketry was realized. The effects was: the exhibition "Viva Basket!", the publication "Viva Basket! Why do we weave?" and a set of films. Additionally, Serfenta, Sore Skogen and Sunnhordland Museum organized an international conference and outdoor weaving in Cieszyn (2-8.08.2014). There were 15 guests invited from all over the world from the basket making society - Carlos Fontales (Spain), Andrea Magnolini (Italy), Gaura Mancatadipura (Indonesia), Jette Mellgren (Denmark), Bernard Bertrand (France) and many others.
In 2015, Serfenta was invited to take part in the 3rd World Festival of Willow and Weaving in Nowy Tomyśl (Poland), where the exhibition "Viva Basket!" was shown and the international forum "Social Face of Basketry" was realized. For the forum guests such as lndrasen Vencatachellum (France), Shimul Vyas (lndie), Frances Potter (South Africa), Hildigard Mufukare (Zimbabwe) and Sara lbrahim (Ethiopia) were invited. During the meeting where discussed the values of the craft - basketry in particular - what makes the craftspeople create? Lecturers from all over the world were brought with their working ideas and projects as selling african baskets abroad (The New Basket Workshop, Lupane Women's Centre), sustainable tourism or using design to strengthen the position of the craft.
In 2016/2017, the organization is engaged in Polish project dedicated for Lucimia village in central Poland, where the skills of weaving special type of the willow basket called "kabtctcok" are still alive. The activity will be finished with the preparing of the documentation of the inscription of those skills for the Polish List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Serfenta Association cooperates with cultural institutions - National Heritage Board of Poland, Polish Ministry of Culture and Cultural Heritage, Polish Commission for UNESCO and Universities - Institutes of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology in Cieszyn and Poznań. The Association is also cooperating with The Fine Art University in Cracow, where it organizes workshops with students of Faculty of Industrial Forms and where it uses design to bring craft to the wider audience.
The basketry workshops for children, adults and seniors are a very important activity in the organization.

Cooperation:
The Serfenta Association takes part in the meetings of the National Heritage Board of Poland for institutions active in intangible society in Poland. The chairwoman of the organization was invited a few times as an expert during workshops organized by this institution (2014, 2015). During the project "Viva Basket! Basket weaving as a living tradition in the context of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" (2014/15), the Association was engaged in Polish - Norwegian discussions on development and supporting the intangible cultural heritage in both countries. For this purpose, the Association organized the international conference Viva Basket! in Cieszyn (7-8.08.2014). Until this moment, it stays in touch with its Norwegian Partners and with another, Norwegian Hand craft Organization - Norges Husflidslag. One year later - in 2015 - Serfenta was invited to take part in the 3rd World Willow and Weaving Festival in Nowy Tomyśi (Poland), where the Association prepared another international meeting - Forum "Social Face of Basketry", what was the possibility to gather all basket making society together.
In 2015/16, Serfenta was engaged in preparing another international cooperation with the basketmaking society in Europe, especially with Germany, what completed with the exhibition of Serfenta's exhibition "Viva Basket!" and basketry straw workshops during the basketry festival (37. Korbmarkt) in Lichtenfels, in Germany in 2016.
In the moment Serfenta is realizing the national project "Preservation and Promotion of Polish Traditional Basketry" with the local community in Lucimia, central Poland. lt is dedicated to skills of making special type of willow basket called "kablacok". Within the project there are meetings with basket makers and local authorities of Lucimia and the main goal is the inscription of the skills connected with "kablqcok" on the Polish List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Year of creation: 1968
Domain(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship

Safeguarding measures:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Main countries where active:

Poland

Objectives:
The aim of the Association is to cultivate and safeguard intangible cultural heritage, with a special focus on the traditions of folk culture in all fields and types of folklore; to popularize the manifestations of folk art, to provide care for folk artists, to represent them and to collect and manage the entrusted rights of association or regulations resulting from the Polish Copyright Act. To accomplish the above mentioned goals, the Association undertakes the following activities:
- Provides inspiration and assistance to the awareness-raising activities on the role and meaning of contemporary folk art emerging from tradition and on the achievements of folk culture, as well as takes care of the values of this work and secures its continuation;
- Presents folk artists and works to the public through shows, workshops, exhibitions, fairs, meetings, and various forms of cooperation with institutions involved in the safeguarding and dissemination of folk art in Poland and abroad;
- Makes efforts to publish the works of folk culture in the fields of literature, fine arts, music, and other disciplines; and organizes its own publishing initiatives on the role of intangible cultural heritage in forms of books, periodicals, and flyers;
- Extracts and stores applications, fairy tales, folk legends, songs, chants, and customs; collects and secures literary, folklore and folk art, creating specialized associations for this purpose;
- Facilitates the provision of necessary tools and raw materials for its members;
- Protects the copyrights of folk creators.
The activities of the Association are conducted in the spirit of mutual respect between diverse groups and communities as well as between heritage bearers and experts.

Activities:
The Association of Folk Artists operates in the following main areas relevant for the 2003 Convention and the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage: documentation of intangible cultural heritage; promotion, dissemination and awareness-raising; as well as publishing.
- Documentation of intangible cultural heritage
The Association has conducted works related to running national data bases of folk creators and rural artistic groups since 1998. The databases are verified and updated annually. At present, the databases run by the Association contain more than 12,000 records. Each record depicts an artist, a craftsman, a band, or a group. The database covers such fields of knowledge and skills related to intangible cultural heritage as: weaving, lace-making, embroidering, pottery-making, painting, sculpting, braiding, blacksmithing, woodcarving, toy-making, paper and tissue decorating, constructing folk musical instruments, as well as amber-crafting, horn-crafting, silverware-making, plastering, saddle-making, bell-founding, and others, including ritual arts. In the field of intangible cultural heritage, it also includes singing, ritual, theatrical, and satirical ensembles, as well as song and dance groups and bands. The database is thus an element of fostering knowledge about regional culture and its characteristic products and creators.
- Promotion, dissemination and awareness-raising - examples
*The Folk Art Fair in Kazimierz Dolny (49 editions), which takes place during the Festival of Folk Bands and Singers (50 editions), is one of the oldest and most prestigious national festivals that presents the contemporary folk culture in Poland. Annually, it brings together over 100 artists that represent different regions of the country. The unique atmosphere enables direct contact and transmission of knowledge and skills between artists and recipients.
*Administering the Web portal Kulturaludowa.pl, which was created as a centre for updated information about widely understood folk culture and intangible heritage.
*The Academy of Folk Art, which is an educational project designed in the form of a series of workshops taught by folk artists from all over Poland that present their skills and knowledge. Every year, five workshop thematic blocks are organized. They cover various traditional creative disciplines. The workshops are attended by 90 organized groups (about 1500 people in total). The meetings are led by the folk artists - members of the Association; the workshops are accompanied by thematic exhibitions that introduce traditional artefacts.
*The Scene of Tradition, which is a group of activities designed to popularize and disseminate musical intangible cultural heritage among children and adults. It enables the performers of the older and younger generations and the laureates of numerous festivals and awards to meet and perform together.
*The Jan Pocek Literary Contest (45 editions), which is the most important Polish national competition for folk writers, poets and storytellers of various age groups, organized annually since 1972. Around 100 writers participate in the contest each year.
- Publishing activities - examples
The Association is the only entity in Poland that has been systematically publishing individual authors' volumes and anthologies of folklore writing since 1976, and in line with the criteria of philological editing. 'Twórczość ludowa' (Folk Creativity) is the only Polish nationwide magazine devoted entirely to contemporary folk art and intangible cultural heritage, its challenges, achievements, and problems. For over 31 years, the magazine has garnered numerous readers and associates and has become a bridge between creators of folk culture, researchers, and culture animators. Two volumes of the magazine are published annually.

Cooperation:
The Association cooperates with diverse communities, groups, and individuals in different ways that are aimed at raising awareness and the transmission of knowledge and skills in the field of intangible cultural heritage, specifically folk culture.
These forms of cooperation include:
- organization of workshops, seminars, conferences, concerts, exhibitions, presentations, fairs, and dance meetings, during which all bearers can meet and teach their skills and thus transmit their knowledge to all interested parties. A special focus is put on the young generation in this regard;
- dissemination and popularization of the creativity of folk creators at home and abroad;
- administrative and organizational assistance in diverse procedures related to obtaining grants and scholarships by individual creators;
- publication of folk literature and documentation of folk artefacts, by means of close cooperation with folk creators.
These forms of cooperation are conducted as closely as possible to the bearers themselves, via the 22 local branches of the Association that operate throughout the country. They are active and dynamic platforms that base their activities on an unbiased social action in the field of intangible cultural heritage. Branches of the Association are catalysts of regional activity; their members take part in various themed events, initiating many projects that are relevant for the local and regional communities, groups, and individuals. Their contribution to cultivating the aforementioned intangible heritage in line with regional traditions plays a significant role in applying the bottom-up approach in the safeguarding of intangible folk heritage. Their activity has thus largely enabled the preservation of folk culture in Poland. One of the basic aims of the Association is also to provide care and assistance to the regional branches in their operations, as it is through their active involvement in the safeguarding actions that many communities, groups, and individuals are able to transmit, document, and develop their intangible cultural heritage.