The beginning and development of the socio-cultural animation in Poland

Socio-Cultural Animation is currently one of the most significant areas of educational activity discussed within social pedagogy. Among social work, tutelary work or health education, it is one of the most important areas of educational practice widely studied within social pedagogy and, consequently, transferred on the specific methodology of practical activities. Simultaneously, it is worthwhile to indicate the significance of the space which encompasses this practice – namely Culture. It is one of the most rudimentary areas influencing human upbringing process, their development and social activity. Therefore, Socio-Cultural Animation is a very important and key area of pedagogical activity. At the same time, being a specific type of reflection, it has undergone and still undergoes the process of development. The reflection over the educational activity undertaken within and through culture, experienced various stages of its recognition. At the very beginning, when it appeared in the circle of interests of the social pedagogy forerunners, it was treated (in a specific sociopolitical context) as an area of educational activities with an important role of institutions which ought to undertake such activities under certain social conditions. The notion of animation was then associated with the concept of creative activity which has remained its constitutive feature as educational practice up to this point. The following years of reflections over socio-cultural animation maintained its more institutional and functional character, yet, it was more and more frequently connected and more clearly implemented with the notion of cultural education as part of the pedagogy of culture. Currently there are various ways of understanding socio-cultural animation accepted by social pedagogy. One of them is the concept of environmental education which sees the area of culture as the important and desired space of realizing education.