INDUSTRIADA – the annual festival of the IMR

By project LOTTI

Published on 30 October 2024

Poland

Śląskie

About this good practice

Industriada – an annual celebration and the main event promoting the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest one-day festival of post-industrial heritage culture in Central and Eastern Europe. It takes place every year in June in the Silesian Voivodeship in facilities belonging to the Industrial Monuments Route, and since 2013 also in so-called "friendly facilities". During Industriada, industrial culture is promoted as a distinctive attribute of the region and an attractive offer for spending free time. Industriada is addressed mainly to residents of the voivodeship.

The entity responsible for the organization, coordination and promotion of Industriada until 2020 was the department of promotion of industrial heritage of the Department of Culture of the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship, and since February 2020 it has been the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze.

Benefits and outputs:
- communicating the significance of industrial heritage including promotion of IMR (event is the best tool to boost the numer of visitors)
- creating positive image of the region
- creating regional identity and the sense of belonging to local community
- drawing the attention of decision makers to industrial heritage

Expert opinion

Industriada is an annual festival celebrating the industrial heritage of the Silesian Voivodeship, making it the largest post-industrial heritage event in Central and Eastern Europe. Held every June, it promotes industrial culture as a unique regional asset and attracts thousands of residents. Initially organised by the Marshal’s Office, it has been managed by the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze since 2020. The festival features 443 events across 46 sites, including workshops, exhibitions, concerts, and guided tours. With 60,000 visitors annually, it boosts tourism, strengthens regional identity, and raises awareness of industrial heritage. The good practice, Industriada, serves as a model for other regions with a strong industrial culture and significant industrial heritage, demonstrating how industrial sites can be leveraged for economic and cultural development. Moreover, its approach to heritage-based tourism, community engagement, and cultural programming can be applied in urban regeneration projects involving the retrofitting of important industrial monuments.

Arnault Morisson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

46 sites (40 from the Industrial Monuments Route), 443 events, 369 free of charge, 292 attractions, 100 for families with children, 99 workshops, 63 exhibitions, 52 special guided tours, 43 concerts, 2 days of celebrations

Evidence of success

- 60 thousand of visitors (every year)
- 29 cities
On March 27, 2012, the Industrial Monuments Route Festival received an award in the prestigious creative advertising competition in Poland, “KREATURA”. In 2012, the Grand Prix for the most complete implementation of the idea of the Brief Efficiency Triangle.
In the 14th edition of the Competition for the Best Tourist Product, Industriada received the first award – the Gold Certificate of the Polish Tourist Organization in 2016.

Potential for learning or transfer

INDUSTRIADA illustrates how regions can leverage their unique industrial and cultural histories to foster economic and social development. With the right approach, industrial areas historically seen as relics of the past can be transformed into hubs of innovation and cultural pride, that support re-creation and support local identity. Synergy between cultural celebration and economic policy provides a robust model for other regions facing similar transitions, demonstrating the power of integrating heritage with forward-thinking strategies to rejuvenate entire communities.