The Miners' Sculptures in Tarnowskie Góry

Tarnowskie Góry, known as the City of Gwarks, cultivate the tradition of the gwarks, who were shareholders in mines that extracted silver and lead ores in the region since the 16th century. The word "gwarek" comes from the German word Gewerke, and the gwarks had to obtain the monarch's permission to operate the mines by paying a tribute called olbora. The city has numerous symbols associated with the gwarks, such as the "Gwarek" housing cooperative, the weekly newspaper Gwarek, and the sports club TS Gwarek. Since 1957, the Gwarki Tarnogórskie festival has been organized, combining artistic performances, workshops, and a historical parade with figures related to mining. Since 2013, sculptures of gwarks have been on display in Tarnowskie Góry, inspired by the Wrocław dwarves, with the first installation unveiled in 2013. The sculptures, created by artists such as Norbert Jastalski and Alojzy Niedbała, symbolize the city's mining heritage and are located in various places. Further sculptures were unveiled in subsequent years, including one inspired by Szymon Malinowski and a figure standing in the Pniowiec district. These outdoor installations not only enrich the city's architecture but also form an important part of Tarnowskie Góry's cultural heritage, and their continued development reflects the ongoing cultivation of the region's mining history.