Hello, this is the Ethnographic Laboratory! 

We are an NGO that has been bringing together ethnologists and anthropologists since 2006. While we are based in Warsaw, we carry out projects throughout the entire country, some in collaboration with international partners.

The world is a complicated place. But can this complexity be something positive? At the Ethnographic Laboratory, we are convinced it can. We believe that comprehending the complex nature of the world is crucial in attempting to understand other people. Grounded in ethnography, we strive to build social awareness and sensitivity.

What we do:

• Educational initiatives that help people better understand the diversity of the social world and our own cultural heritage.
• Research and cultural animation projects that support local communitiesin finding common ground.
• Popular science endevours that facilitate the exploration of the latest social research and its significance.

We live in times of dynamic change and significant geopolitical and social challenges. In these circumstances funding humanities is put on the back burner. It may seem less essential, yet we are certain that it plays a vital part in creating space for diversity and understanding. For this reason, we've decided to start this crowdfunding campaign and ask for your financial support. Help us explore the complexity of the world!

Last year, we implemented several projects on various topics, in cooperation with local communities in many places throughout Poland. The projects and activities that we plan to continue in 2024 include:

[EDUCATION] Our Place. Stories from former State Farms – State Farms existed in Poland during the communist era. They were a form of collective farming where land and means of production were owned by the state, and farmers' work was organized within a shared structure. After their dissolution in the 1990s, negative stereotypes emerged around former State Farm villages. However, these stereotypes do not encompass everything that these localities held. The stories of their residents often speak of the strength of local communities that had to function under difficult conditions.  In 2023 workshops were conducted in selected Lower Silesia and West Pomeranian Voivodeship villages, exploring local heritage with young people, and creating an ethnographic map around one village.

[RESEARCH AND CULTURAL ANIMATION] Finding Ourselves on the Map of Myscowa – Myscowa is a small village in the Low Beskidys mountain range, formerly inhabited by the Lemko ethnic minority. Its residents have been living in uncertainty due to recurring plans for the construction of a reservoir that would submerge the village. They feel that no one values their local heritage. Together with the residents and the artist - Anna Chmiel - we created an ethnographic village map that collects local stories and highlights what connects people associated with Myscowa.

[POPULARIZATION] 17th Ethnographic Film Review "Eyes and Lenses" – the one and only regular ethnographic film review in Poland.  Organized in the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, it presents a concise and diverse review of films (with subtitles) combining the art of filmmaking and the craft of ethnographic work, capturing unique views of the world. “Who among us doesn't feel like an outsider sometimes? Who is completely normal?” – asked the characters of one of the films which was shown during this year's edition of the review. 17th edition focused on various aspects of minority experience, presenting four films from four different parts of the world. 

After the projects are completed, we will send you an email with a report on their progress.

Want to learn more?

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or contact us via e-mail: [email protected]