Borderland House of Art (former Greek Catholic Church), Dubiecko

A yellow, centrally planned church with a dome on a tall drum stands by the main road through Dubiecko. This is the former Greek Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, built in 1927, which after years as a warehouse has found a new life: since 2004 it has housed the Borderland House of Art (Kresowy Dom Sztuki) – a gallery and meeting place that recalls the three cultures and religions of old Dubiecko.

History

The brick church was built in 1927 on the site of an earlier wooden church from 1774, renovated in 1879. The parish belonged to the Greek Catholic deanery of Bircza, and after the First World War to that of Pruchnik. In 1863 it was divided into two independent parishes, Dubiecko and Ruskie Sioło.

After the Second World War the building served for decades as a warehouse. In the 1990s the Greek Catholic Church recovered it and lent it for cultural use. Thanks to the Society of Friends of the Dubiecko Land, the walls were secured and the building partly restored, and on 12 September 2004 the Borderland House of Art opened here, respecting the sacred character of the interior. Its first exhibition was titled "Dubiecko – a meeting of three cultures and religions".

What to look for

• The building's form – centrally planned, with lower arms around an octagonal drum crowned by a dome and lantern.
• The information board in front of the building, telling the church's story.
• The exhibitions – the gallery presents art and events connected with the history of the borderland.

Tripto tip

The building stands by the road through Dubiecko, a few hundred metres from the Krasicki Palace. You can see the exterior at any time in 10–15 minutes. The interior is opened for exhibitions and cultural events – these are announced by the Society of Friends of the Dubiecko Land and the municipality, so check before you travel. The best photo of the dome is from across the road in the afternoon light.