Bielsko-Biała, June 13, 2025 – An event unique in its format, scale, and intentions took place at the Bielsko-Biała Aeroclub hangar. " AirportWiec ," organized by the FLID Foundation as part of the "Design-Heritage" program, brought together the worlds of aviation engineering, design, and artistic education in an open, artistic-scientific forum.
The event attracted a wide audience – from school and university students to designers, engineers, and aviation and material culture enthusiasts. The key objective was not only to present the history of gliders from Bielsko-Biała, but above all to reinterpret them in the context of contemporary design thinking.
Hangar as an interdisciplinary stage
The Aeroclub's wooden hangar became a temporary stage for exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations – both educational and artistic. Visitors could see classic aircraft up close, enter a "Pirat" glider fuselage simulator built by ZSTiH students, and visit the modeling workshop, where legendary flying structures have been created for decades.
Attractions also include:
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an exhibition of artistic fabrics " Skrzydlaci " inspired by aerodynamics and the form of a wing,
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review of aviation artifacts – on-board instruments and technical details,
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presentations of schools and universities combining art with technology,
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an aerial cinema with classics of the genre,
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open-air painting with the participation of an art high school,
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photography and design competitions (including "Young Fly Design" for young creators).
Design as a tool for memory reconstruction
"AirportRally" is not just a nostalgic journey into the past, but also an attempt to redefine heritage through contemporary design tools. This event aligns with the broader trend of heritage-focused design—combining visual research, artifact work, and spatial narratives with new forms of expression.
The multisensory presentation—from models to textiles to interactive experiences—created not so much an exhibition as an experience grounded in place, context, and time. Participants became co-authors of this story: they documented, sketched, recorded, and designed.
Observation and documentation
A short film from the event (available on the Arting Project website) captures its character – dynamic, inclusive, and full of micro-narratives. The camera captures people focused on models, children at consoles, artists at easels, and construction details in the soft light of the hangar. All in the spirit of a communal celebration of knowledge, craft, and form.
A new format for design events?
"LotniskoWiec" is an example of an event model that not only educates but also activates. It aligns with the idea of an open design lab operating at the intersection of locality, science, art, and the history of technology. Such initiatives demonstrate how contemporary design can be a tool for working with material memory, space, and community—without sacrificing quality and aesthetics.
Organizers: FLID Foundation, Arting Project
Partners: Bielsko-Biała Aeroclub, ZSTiH, Art High School in Bielsko-Biała, art and technical universities
Rules of the photography competition
Application form for participation in the competition
