Provincial Poland : sustainable development and culture in small and medium-sized towns

As sustainable development became a fundamental element of state policy, the concept has become one of the driving forces behind a shift in the way of life in Polish provinces today. This chapter examines the implementation of a broad concept of sustainable development in small and medium-sized communities in Poland, and analyses the ways in which culture is part of this process. The chapter examines local approaches to the implementation of culture-led sustainable development strategies, and discusses two case studies that illustrate very different approaches: the town of Zator and the Cittaslow Network of towns.