Youth Palace in Katowice

The Youth Palace named after Professor Aleksander Kamiński in Katowice is an out-of-school education institution, operating since 1951, under the pedagogical supervision of the Silesian School Superintendent. It was established on the initiative of the Silesian-Dąbrowa Voivode, General Aleksander Zawadzki, and its construction was funded through resources collected from local institutions and state subsidies. Architecturally, the building represents the style of socialist realism with elements of late modernism, and its design was the work of Gliwice architects Zygmunt Majerski and Julian Duchowicz. The building was erected on a square at the intersection of Mikołowska and Żwirki i Wigury Streets, and its harmonious composition fits into the city's urban planning. The Youth Palace consists of ten facilities, including an educational building, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium, with a characteristic iron gate leading to the courtyard. Historically, it initially operated as a Children's Home, and since 1990 it has borne the name of Professor Aleksander Kamiński. Over the years, the Youth Palace has become an important cultural center, hosting various artistic, sports, and educational activities. Currently, there are 17 workshops that bring together nearly 4,500 children and youth. The rich offer of activities includes theater, music, chemistry, physics, as well as sports, featuring a unique indoor swimming pool and a judo hall in the region. The Palace also houses associations such as the Inter-school Sports Club "Youth Palace," and as an interesting fact, it is worth mentioning that the Polish Post Office issued a stamp depicting this institution in 1960. The Youth Palace complex has been entered into the register of monuments, and in 2013 it was honored with the Golden Honorary Badge for Merits to the Silesian Voivodeship. The modernization of the facility was completed in 2014, contributing to its further development.