Cooperation between Kalisz and Erfurt has been ongoing since 1984 and was renewed in 1990.

The occasion for the visit was a concert showcasing Polish classical and jazz music performed by the Pawlik Duo. Włodek Pawlik, a composer and jazz pianist, collaborated with the City of Kalisz and the Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra to create a musical portrait of Kalisz - the jazz suite "Night in Calisia." In the ballroom of Erfurt’s city hall, he performed excerpts from the suite, along with other original compositions and works by Frédéric Chopin, together with his son Łukasz Pawlik, a multi-instrumentalist and composer. The concert took place in the ballroom of the historic city hall. Guests included representatives of Erfurt’s authorities, Stephan König, State Secretary for Media and Europe and representative of the Free State of Thuringia to the Federal Government, as well as members of Polish associations active in Thuringia. The audience rewarded the brilliant performance of more than a dozen compositions with a standing ovation.

Representatives of the Kalisz local government also took part in a discussion on the participation of children and young people in the planning and implementation of investments and projects aimed at encouraging young people to build their future in their hometowns. Krystian Kinastowski spoke, among other things, about the “Kalisz for the Young” program, cooperation with the Youth City Council, scholarship programs, support for the development of education, including the University of Kalisz, and the expansion of cultural and sports opportunities for children and young people. Alongside Lord Mayor Andreas Horn, the hosts were represented by Konstantin Fuchs, Managing Director of the Stadtjugendring e.V. association, and Vanessa Blöhdorn, Participation Coordinator at the BÄMM! Youth Office.

In the afternoon, the guests from Kalisz visited the Municipal Music School in Erfurt during its open day event, which featured a performance by the pop guitar orchestra The Hot Wires. They also had the opportunity to tour Erfurt, particularly one of the best-preserved ensembles of Jewish architecture in Europe, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes the Old Synagogue, the Mikveh, and the Stone House. Discussions on cooperation in the field of sports were further expanded during a visit to a golf course.