Can a Food Hall Be a Place for Serious Discussions on Health? The KoSHEki Festival at Hala Koszyki Confirms It Can.

Hala Koszyki, managed by Globalworth, recently became the venue for an extraordinary event that combined discussions on cancer prevention, mental health, and art. The KoSHEki Festival proved that a food hall can indeed be a space for meaningful conversations about physical and mental health.

Hala Koszyki is an important cultural, culinary, and retail landmark in Warsaw. Managed by Globalworth, the venue proved its versatility at the end of October. During the KoSHEki Festival, it embraced the beauty and power of women in three dimensions: physical health, mental well-being, and spirit. The event’s academic value was provided by partners such as the National Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, the Sarcoma Association, the Polish Sculpture Centre, Prima Vita Clinic, Food And Mood Space, Presto magazine, Kraina Bugu, and the Artinfo portal.

“Retail spaces are becoming increasingly versatile, and in addition to their business aspect, they are increasingly contributing to public life by adding value. The KoSHEki Festival aligns with the contemporary trend of bringing preventive health checks out of the doctor’s office and into public spaces. If we spend several hours a month shopping, why not dedicate a few minutes to preventive exams or psycho-oncological education? With this idea in mind, we created the festival program, which was framed by the unique interactive performance ‘Baśń o kobiecie’ (Fairy Tale About a Woman) by Miłosława Skoczek-Śliwińska from the Polish Cultural Centre in Orońsko,” explains Piotr Krowicki, Marketing Manager of Hala Koszyki, Globalworth Poland.

The performance “Baśń o kobiecie” is a moving tale that portrays a symbolic journey into the depths of the female psyche, represented by the archetypal figures of the Triple Goddess: the Black, Red, and White Madonnas. Each of these figures symbolizes a stage in life and spiritual maturity, embodying the challenges that lead the heroine – and every woman – to discover her own identity, acceptance, and inner renewal.

The health-focused part of the festival was supported by experts, including those from the National Institute of Oncology in Warsaw. They were responsible for the educational and preventive screening zone, where they taught breast self-exams. Visitors and tenants also had the opportunity to benefit from free dermatoscopy screenings provided by the Sarcoma Association. The results show that it was worthwhile – of the several dozen people screened, nine were referred for further diagnostics, one of them with suspected oncological disease.

The “Healthy Conversation” session was also highly popular, during which partners discussed the importance of mental health in the treatment of cancer, the preventive aspects of nutrition, and the role of art as a form of expression and therapy. The discussion featured psycho-oncologist Dr. Mariola Kosowicz, artist Miłosława Skoczek-Śliwińska, art curator Kama Zboralska, and Kasia Nadolska, the owner of the culinary studio Food and Mood Space.

“Today, the real obstacle to effective treatment is not the lack of tools but the fear of diagnosis, which discourages patients from preventive screenings. The pace of life is often used as an excuse – we claim we don’t have time for doctor visits. Education and screenings where we spend our leisure time is one of the solutions that can help us win the battle against the disease,” explains Dagmara Mokwa, Deputy Head of the Cancer Prevention Department at the National Institute of Oncology in Warsaw.

The educational program was complemented by culinary workshops on healthy eating, organized by Radio Chillizet and the Food and Mood Space culinary studio.

Until November 15, visitors can admire the sculpture “Baubo” at the main entrance to Hala Koszyki. This work by Miłosława Skoczek-Śliwińska depicts the corporeality of women and their acceptance in a culture dominated by the pursuit of perfection. The artist is also the creator of “Baśń o kobiecie” – the performance about the strength of the female experience, presented on the final day of the festival.