In March 2025, a group of eight students from SWPS University’s Cultural Studies program participated in a travelling seminar on “Cultural Collaborations: Arts, Politics, Society”, which took them to France and provided an opportunity to meet their peers and attend some classes and workshops at the University Paris 8. The trip was organized thanks to the European Reform University Alliance’s program — Innovative Teaching Initiatives.
Establishing ties and learning together
The trip to Paris was a great opportunity to meet fellow students from Paris 8 and participate in classes, lectures, and workshops there. Some of the activities included:
- Seminar on “Politiques et gestion de la Culture en Europe” [Policies and management of culture in Europe], which was part of Professor’s Bordat-Chauvin class, where Dr. Bojarska presented a lecture on “Unlawful and Unjust. Cultural Policy in Poland 2015-2023”, followed by a Q&A session and a role-play exercise illustrating Polish cultural policies, which was prepared by students from University Paris 8.
- Class of Professor Bordat-Chauvin on “Multilateral cultural cooperation”, with guest participation of Professor Cadot, and a documentary filmmaker who, made a documentary film in Warsaw in the spring of 2024 with the participation of students from SWPS University.
- For their French hosts, students from SWPS University (USWPS) prepared a presentation on memory and culture wars in the context of recent memory politics in Poland. Class attendees discussed cultural cooperation between Poland and Ukraine (including the multiple responses of the artistic community and cultural institutions to the full scale Russian invasion on Ukraine) and migration of Ukrainian refugees to Poland as well as Polish-Israeli relations (in the context of the shared Polish-Jewish history, and the current situation in Gaza). Furthermore, the presentation highlighted challenges such as migration, climate crisis, gender imbalance, and decolonization — issues that cultural institutions face nowadays and their respective responses to these problems.
- Presentation by French students on the National Museum for the History of Immigration in Paris.
Students from SWPS University attend a lecture at University Paris 8, in France.
Students from SWPS University attend a lecture at University Paris 8, in France.
Paris, France.
Exploring artistic heritage of France and international contemporary art
Over four days in Paris students form SWPS University had a chance to stroll around Paris and visit many cultural landmarks and exhibitions, for example:
- Palais de Tokyo, where students viewed three exhibitions:
- “Somewhere in the night, the people dance” by Raphaël Barontini — the exhibit is a reinterpretation of African and Caribbean history by creative remaking of archives. It provides a rich learning experience concerning untold and unknown stories of the African and Caribbean culture.
- “Collective Joy – Learning flamboyance!”, a group exhibition, which presents subcultures of protest, demonstration, and gatherings. It shows the process of group formation and showcases the joy that comes from sharing common experiences. There, students could admire the works of selected French and international artists who creatively augmented public spaces.
- “Alphabeta Sigma (Side A)” by Rammellzee, an artist representing the 1980s New York City underground scene, who combines music, art installations, and video.
- Walther Koenig bookstore. The Walther Koenig bookstore chain, considered to be the best art bookstore in Europe, carries art albums, books on the theory and history of art, design, architecture and visual culture as well as a range of art magazines.
- Musee Maillol, which presents the works of Aristide Bonaventure Jean Maillol (drawings, engravings, paintings, sculptures, decorative art, original plaster and terracotta work) along with other works from Vierny's private collection. Our students saw the “Nadia Léger. An avant-garde woman” exhibition.
- Le Corbusier Villa Savoye, located in the suburban town of Poissy. The trip was a unique opportunity to see firsthand one of the most influential buildings of the 20th century and understand its impact on contemporary design.
- Association Institut Bibliothèque Polonaise de Paris, which represents Polish culture in France. It encompasses three sections: Le Salon Chopin; Le Musée Adam Mickiewicz; Le Musée Bolesław Biegas. Our students participated in a guided tour of the Institute and saw a contemporary art exhibit by Piotr Uklański.
- The Centre Pompidou — students visited two exhibitions: “Paris Noir. Artistic circulations and anti-colonial resistance, 1950 – 2000” and “Suzanne Valadon”
- LE BAL — an independent place dedicated to exhibitions, publications, ideas and education, centered on the contemporary image in all its forms, including photography, video, film and new media. Our students saw the Laia Abril’s exhibit “On Mass Hysteria / Une Histoire de la Misogynie”.
- Bourse de Commerce, where the students attend the “Corps et âmes” exhibit — an exploration of the human body in contemporary art, and a presentation of works by Arthur Jafa, an American video artist and cinematographer.
- Musée Jacquemart-André — an Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition, where students were accompanied by Abigail Solomon-Godeau, Professor Emerita of the University of California, Santa Barbara, a renowned art historian, critic, and exhibition curator.
Students from USWPS at Bourse de Commerce in Paris, France.
The Polish Library in Paris.
Students from USWPS in Paris, France"
Students from USWPS in front of the Pompidou Center"
This innovative learning opportunity was organized by Dr. Katarzyna Bojarska, Coordinator of the Cultural Studies program at SWPS University, in collaboration with Professor Elodie Bordat-Chauvin and Professor Christine Cadot from University Paris 8 who developed such an inspiring and rich program, which was just a start for future fruitful conversations and collaborations.
Educational and enriching experience
Dominika
Student in the Cultural Studies program at SWPS University
"The ERUA study trip to Paris was an incredible experience that has allowed me to immerse myself in different cultures and understand better how other societies perceive Poland. Additionally, Paris is an ideal destination to experience art, which I fully embraced by visiting numerous institutions (Palais de Tokyo, Bourse de Commerce, Centre Pompidou) and architectural landmarks (Villa Savoye)! This provided me with a deeper understanding of artistic movements, memory politics and the role of cultural cooperation in Europe."
Emilia
Student in the Cultural Studies program at SWPS University
"The discussions about the challenges that art institutions face and the exchange of perspectives on cultural issues felt especially meaningful, making me even more aware of the importance of cultural collaboration and shared experiences. What also inspired me deeply was visiting Parisian exhibitions—it made me realize how much I’ve learned from my studies on contemporary culture and how relevant these conversations still are. Being immersed in such a rich artistic environment left me feeling energized and full of new ideas."
Liliana
Student in the Cultural Studies program at SWPS University
"Our trip to Paris was an unforgettable experience that deepened my understanding of contemporary culture and artistic expression. I feel that it broadened my horizons but also brought so much joy. I am so thankful for being able to meet many fantastic people - both students and teachers from the University Paris 8. Exploring the city’s art scene and also passing by beautiful Parisian architecture was truly engaging and inspiring. Even with my feet hurting I would not let myself waste any time, since the city has so much to offer, so I'm grateful I squeezed everything I could from this experience."
Trip Organizer and Supervisor
Katarzyna Bojarska
Ph.D. / Assistant Profesor, Faculty of Humanities in Warsaw, SWPS University
She is a cultural researcher. Her professional interests include visual culture, contemporary art, cultural memory as well as trauma and affect studies. She is the Head of the Center for Comparative Research on Memory Cultures. Read more
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