Necessity is usually the mother of invention. The origin of the title of our magazine confirms this. Late 20th century was the time when the only obstacle for rapidly developing stone branch in Poland was lack of reliable information. The idea of creating a professional stone magazine was quickly brought to life. At the 9th “Kamień” fair in Wałbrzych the core group of editors was formed. Since that time our subscribers have been getting latest issues of ŚK six times a year. In total, over 90 issues in 15 years.

Times were changing and so were the people. Some were coming, others were leaving, sometimes for ever ... – it is normal, but one thing has not changed: our daily work is about satisfying needs of broadly understood stone branch. In the meantime various initiatives appeared. They were addressed to our regular subscribers, both to companies and to all who are into discovering qualities of natural stone. Representatives of largest Polish and global companies from our branch write their articles for us. We also cooperate with Polish stone industry associations (for example with the Polish Employers’ Association of Stone Industry ZPBK) and foreign ones (Euroroc, Wonasa).

We are also very happy to have an online version of our magazine. In spite of this, many of us still look forward to paper editions of “Świat Kamienia”. We do the most. Latest news presented in our magazine reach our subscribers from Poland and outside Poland six times a year. At most important branch events you can see a sign “Polish Stone Magazine” at our stand which adds exclusivity to our bimonthly. The fact that this name is present on the cover of our magazine is not accidental, either. Keeping our foreign readers in mind, we translate most important columns and articles into English since among our subscribers there are people from nearly all continents! This text will also be read in many parts of the world. The title obliges us to write about stone in the world. We do it with pleasure because we know that there are no boundaries for natural materials.

What goes into the making of our magazine? You may ask. It is made thanks to you. We meet with you face to face at most important branch events. Then we can find out what you think about new columns or get interesting suggestions from you. We always take pictures, it is very important for us. We collect journalistic materials from conferences, trainings, branch events. We often initiate contacts ourselves. It all starts in Opole. From 23 January 2012 you can find us in a new office building at 26 Wspólna street. After moving to the business part of Opole we have more opportunities to meet with our readers – feel free to come! Our team meet there: editors (editor-in-chief and managing editor), a graphic designer, a proof-reader, a typesetter, marketing team. We usually discuss topics for our articles a month before publishing another issue. When there is no time left we organise teleconferences. Well, we are also tempted by useful tools so we take advantage of the possibility of being in touch via the Internet. We are trying to be up to date with new trends. Therefore, we are greatly involved in developing our internet website (www.swiat-kamienia.pl).

Cyber revolution, however, has not changed one thing: we still want to be present in places where something interesting is happening. Our visits in such places let us write interesting pieces of news or reports. The content of ŚK issues depends on what important events in a previous month took place. We are aware of the fact that expectations are rising. Our magazine is a source of information not only for stonemasons but also for sculptors, artists and suppliers of new technologies, machines and devices. Now it is time to remind you of most important projects and events which we were writing about in our magazine.

The passing year for our magazine is a comeback of a well-known project. After 7 years we are coming back to the column which was once summarised by a “2008-2010 stone market report with the division into provinces”. In this issue you can find the first part of it, a fruit of meetings and talks with some branch representatives from Lower Silesia. We hope that you will enjoy this. We know very well that what you are looking for the most in our magazine is information about you. Who may expect our journalists soon? For sure representatives of companies from Opole and Silesian provinces. We hope that you will contact us first and pre-arranged meetings will let us collect interesting journalist materials about you.  

Another certain thing is that, like in previous years, we are going to continue actions which aim to promote our branch – also among kids: mosaics workshops in schools, patronage over projects carried out by students of architecture, and many more. We are going to keep you up to date with new initiatives. Cluster – a key word for initiatives that include cooperation of companies – is giving positive effects now.  

What are your memories of 2013? Are architects afraid of stone? We know the answer to this question, because our editors co-hosted unprecedented debate during the stone fair in Poznań. We were promoting lettering very much then organising another lettering competition. We also do not forget about designers, stone companies and sculptors as well as projects including the use of stone in architecture, sculpture and tombstones. Caryatid competition is a well-known initiative. The aim is still the same – to choose best stone projects.  

Brazil, Turkey, India… and recently a visit to Xiamen. It was not the first time when we organised a trip for entrepreneurs from Poland. In total (including our previous trips) a few tens of our readers took advantage of our trips. A few new authors had their debuts in our magazine that year: construction law specialists, law experts who specialise in commenting legislative changes – we hope that their publications helped “Świat Kamienia” readers find a way in a new reality since that year was full of important amendments of the law.

In early 2012 we officially announced the end of time of troubles on financial markets! The results of our survey (www.swiat-kamienia.pl) proved that, at least from Budma fair (January 2012), sentiments among stone branch entrepreneurs show that the change is coming. Since that moment we stopped relying in our commentaries on opinions expressed by some pessimist analysts of construction market. Even in our Stone Forum we could see posts about “an effective spoiling of the market” by some sellers of ready-made tombstones. Only reports by our correspondent from Strzegom might have raised concerns. No need to consolidate and cooperate in stone branch – scientific research carried out by Monika Wilk proved that big changes would have to come to improve the situation. And they did come!

2011

We still remember submissions to Kamień 2011 competition. The 8th edition turned out to be extremely rich in submitted proposals. Journalist materials were dominated by issues connected with cutting stone blocks. Both a diamond wire and water jets were something new then. Polish stone companies took advantage of EU funds. We were writing about interesting examples of modernisations of your companies. We were also fascinated by events which accompanied the revolution in stone branch in China because pay rise demands in China gave some hope for quarrying and processing companies in Poland.

Summaries of the first decade of 21st century dominated ŚK issues in 2010. “Poland: a leader of road building”, “The year of record-high number of investments”, “Credits and European funds”, “Innovative machines attract greatest attention” – experts from Polish and foreign companies proved many times how much the image of people working with stone had changed. The major event in the world that year was setting up of the World Natural Stone Association, whilst in Poland it was the Mining Congress. At the end of that year we summarised the popularity of EU funds – halfway through the 2007-2010 Regional Operational Programme Polish companies got nearly 70 million zlotys (ca. 17.5 million euro).

In 2009 we hit an idea that, at the occasion of publishing a birthday issue (10 years of ŚK), we should meet in Cracow with people who were shaping our magazine throughout its history. The meeting finished with a photo session at the Market Square and one of the pictures appeared on the cover of the 10th birthday issue. In our articles we were also writing about those who passed away but who will stay in our hearts forever. 
 

It does not really matter whether you remember the times when our magazine consisted only of analogue pictures and seeing a computer meant experiencing a culture shock; if you are with us from the very beginning or you joined us later – we promise you that we will be reporting about qualities of stone as long as stone is timeless. We need you for this job. Will you help us?