Local councillors from the conservative Law and Justice party are trying to block a multi-media spectacular opening of the new Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, designed by British film director Peter Greenaway.

Law and Justice argues that Warsaw city councillors (from the rival Civic Platform) want to organize a costly event in order to gain popularity before municipal elections later this year.

"One and a half million zloty for an opening ceremony of the Copernicus Science Centre is an immense sum which aims only at promoting [Civic Platfrom’s] politicians before the election,” one Law and Justice politician told the local Zycie Warszawy newspaper (unnamed in the report).

Head of the Copernicus Science Centre Robert Firmhoffer denies, however, that the event - designed by Peter Greenaway, director of Prospero’s Books (1991) and many other iconoclastic works, will cost 1.5 million zloty (370,000 euro).

“We are still looking for sponsors and estimating the cost of the event,” says Firmhoffer, revealing details of the project.

“Peter Greenaway is fascinated with the wild Vistula River flowing through the city of Warsaw,” says Firmhoffer. “For over two months we have been preparing a great sound and vision spectacle, which will be based on two main themes: Warsaw and universe. The spectacle will be titled “Big Bang”.

The opening ceremony was to take place in September but due to the recent floods it will probably be postponed until October. (mg/pg)

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