The International Cultural Centre launched its activities on 29th May 1991 during the CSCE symposium in Krakow. It was a special moment: the first big meeting of East and West dedicated to culture and cultural heritage since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. This way the newly set-up institution with a clear mission made its presence felt on the international forum from its inception. The core idea of the Centre is inter-cultural communication and creating a common Europe that bridges political, ideological and religious divisions and underscores the significance of Central Europe for European and global heritage.