The European Culture Congress in Wrocław, which opens 8 September will be one of the most important events of Poland’s presidency in the European Union which begins this summer.

Among the most eagerly awaited events is a joint project of the famous composer Krzysztof Penderecki, Radiohead guitarist Jonn Greenwood and electronic music star Aphex Twin.

The programme of the four-day congress has been unveiled at a press conference in Warsaw. It will be held under the motto ‘Art for social change’ and will bring together some 300 prominent artists and academics, including the writers Umberto Eco, Vaclav Havel, Amos Oz and Tadeusz Różewicz, the composer Krzysztof Penderecki and the film director Andrzej Wajda.

The opening address by the Polish sociologist Zaygmunt Bauman, who now lives in Britain, will be an introduction to a debate on the key challenges facing European culture.

In addition to numerous discussion panels, the programme of the congress includes a meeting of EU ministers of culture, their discussions with representatives of NGOs and high-calibre artistic events.

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood will premiere his ‘48 Responses to Polymorphia’ and Aphex Twin his Polymorphia Reloaded, the works inspired by Penderecki’s early avant-garde piece Polymorphia written fifty years ago.

A new play by the young, up-and-coming Polish writer Dorota Masłowska is also to be premiered during the congress. (mk)