Paweł Potoroczyn, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Photo: Kirill Smirnov
A meeting with Paweł Potoroczyn, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Olga Wysocka, manager of the Presidency Project opens a special workshop series at Warsaw's Zachęta National Art Gallery devoted to the most creative ideas developed over the course of the cultural programme of Poland's EU Presidency in 2011
Moderated by Aleksander Laskowski of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the talk will provide a special occasion for learning about behind-the-scene preparations of the cultural programme of Poland's EU Council presidency in 2011. The main points of the programme focus on the programme's goals and cultural diplomacy across a broad territory.
The International Cultural Programme of the Polish EU Presidency 2011, was carried out as a mandate of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage under the tagline I, CULTURE. It grew into the largest-ever promotional project in the history of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Poland’s first-ever presidency of the EU Council was an ideal opportunity to develop the Polska brand and to foster the country’s image in the international arena as a modern and unique nation with a rich heritage and burgeoning contemporary culture. It was the perfect chance to present Poland as a creative enclave of Europe.
While the Presidency coincided with a period of economic difficulties for the European Union, Poland still managed to capture the attention of the media and the public, gathering a collective audience of 19 million over the six month term. The influential Flemish magazine Knack declared that the Polish government made wonderful use of the country’s assets in the field of culture, heralding Polska as "A brand to be trusted". The presidency’s cultural programme consisted of more than 400 events held in 10 capital cities: Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Kyiv, London, Madrid, Minsk, Moscow, Paris, and Tokyo. It was realised in collaboration with foreign partners, Polish culture institutions and branches of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs - embassies, consulates and Polish Institutes. Yet, the crucial role in the programme’s inception and execution was played by the artists who took part.
Date: 4th of February, 12.15 pm, duration: 1.5 hours
Venue: Zachęta National Art Gallery, Warsaw
Organised by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Zachęta National Art Gallery