Abstract:

Problems:
The undertaken topic constitutes part of discussions concerning, among others
a) the new roles of cultural institutions, and their immediate surroundings;
b) establishing cultural spaces/centres that offer activities capable of cognitively engaging various generations. The purpose of the study includes the introduction of selected non-standard places, and projects (their characteristics, participant’s profiles, and challenges) - specific for the analysed institutions. What are the trends when it comes to the activities of the described institutions? Which of the proposals offered by modern cultural spaces can be used or are used in formal educational practice?

Methods:
While making the attempt to analyse the undertaken problems, reference was made to subject literature: research and expert positions, case studies, and thematic documents. The issues raised in the work are complex, hence the author of abstract considers the so-far-obtained data (illustrated best practices) as a starting point for further research.

Results:
The preliminary conclusions of the studies (the results of the theoretical analysis related, among others, to the implementation at the Institute of Pedagogy, CSWU of an original project financed from research funds - “new” spaces for education, integration and creative cooperation, as well as support offered to learners by non-traditional social and cultural infrastructure), combined with the professional experience of the author, lecturer, researcher and project implementer in the field of education, show that in the case of the analysed activities, an important role is played. These are:
1) the commitment of individuals - the creative and social involvement of culture educators and animators and
2) the openness of participants to new experiences, projects using e.g. innovative technologies and/or participation of unobvious partners.

Keywords:

examples of cultural institutions, openness to local environment, cultural diversity, creative cooperation, social initiatives, inclusive learning.