Scena 96 Association was established in 1996.
It is a group of artists, animators and managers of culture.
The association conducts statutory activity consisting, among others, in organizing theatrical, dance and music events, educational undertakings of artistic character, exhibitions and realization of own performances. It carries out culture-creating and animation projects: festivals, theater and music reviews and seminars on theater and film.
Scena 96 Association cooperates with Polish and foreign festivals of art in open space, as well as with institutes of culture from European countries based in Poland. It jointly organizes visits of foreign ensembles to Poland and promotes Polish ensembles at foreign festivals.
The most important undertakings of Scena 96 Association are:
- International Festiwal Sztuka Ulicy (since 1993) – an interdisciplinary performing arts festival presenting hundreds of theater, dance and circus performances from around the world to Warsaw audiences. In 2023. Festival will celebrate 30 years of existence.
- Festival Dziecięce Lato Teatralne (since 2001) – a presentation of performances by Polish theaters for the youngest in cooperation with Warsaw districts: Ochota, Wilanów, Włochy, Mokotów, Praga Południe, Praga Północ, Rembertów, Wesoła.
- Królewskie Arkady Sztuki (since 2009) – an artistic undertaking carried out in cooperation with the Royal Castle in Warsaw – The Residence of Kings and Republic of Poland Museum and the Warsaw Music Society. The editions of this multicultural artistic project include plays, concerts and dance and ballet performances by professional artists. The events are realized in the beautiful scenery of Kubicki Arcades, located in the so-called transept of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
Scena 96 Theatre is a permanent and stationary activity of Scena 96 Association. It was initiated on 24 September 1996 with the play Paweł i Gaweł directed by Sławomir Krawczyński. The premiere took place at the Rozmaitości Theatre at 8 Marszałkowskie Street in Warsaw. Currently, Scena 96 Theatre is based in the Szustra Palace in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. The repertoire includes family spectacles, e.g. the author’s version of the legend of the dragon from Wawel Castle “Cmok. Smok”, “Czarny łabędź” inspired by Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “Ugly Duckling”, “Krawiec Niteczka” and “Szewc Kopytko i kaczor Kwak” based on poems by Kornel Makuszyński. The classic fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” took on a new meaning. A poem by Aleksander Fredro about two feuding neighbors was the starting material for a performance entitled “Paweł and Gaweł cd.” and the works of Franciszka and Stefan Themerson for the play “Pan Tom Buduje dom”. Performances of Scena 96 Theatre are also presented during theatrical meetings such as: International Theatre Festival WERTEP in Podlasie , Karawana. Wandering Festival of Art and Animation, Theatre Festival InQbator in Ostrołeka, Dziecięce Lato Teatralne in Warsaw, Ulica Festival in Krakow.