Cepelix on the Central Square. Citizens of Nowa Huta as folk arts & crafts creators

The goal of this paper is to expose and analyze the contemporary folklore of the industrial discrit of Kraków called Nowa Huta. „City without God”, how it was created and named, played a significant role in the Polish resistant movement during communist times. Stories of that period are crucial for Nowa Huta citizens, first of all for their indentity, but also for district’s image and marketing. Since the post-war times there is a shop „Cepelia” placed in Central Square of Ronald Reagan in Nowa Huta, Kraków. CPLiA (Centrala Przemysłu Ludowego i Artystycznego, what means: Headquarters of the Folk and Artistic Industry) all the communist period long was govermental branch responsible for folk arts & crafts. In fact it was a huge buissnes employing over 20 000 people to design, create and sell folk art which pleased the socialist party. The shop in Nowa Huta was one connected to this network, however after political transformation in 90s of 20th centrury it changed as well. Cepelia became Cepelix. Nowadays (research was conducted in 2014 and 2022) one can find there some folk art, but also modern design connected to the district indentity and history. Paper contains an analysys of this new assortment and tryies to answer the question is it possible to treat it as a folklore as well as the other items being sold there?

This paper presents the chosen and initial issues relating to the potential of the historical gentrification in Nowa Huta – the part of Krakow that was erected as a new, perfect town of socialism in the 50s. In order to investigate the gentrification potential of this area, I take into account the important subject of urban changes present in the Polish conditions. In fact, I do it from a different perspective and in a different moment; I observe the gentrification process through the eyes of the new citizens and in its introductory phase.