The development of culture is one of the basic elements of social advancement, fostering national identity and Polish tradition and history. The implementation of those goals requires protection of cultural heritage and guaranteeing access to it. The government augments systematically means earmarked for cultural projects, the creation of modern interactive cultural posts, and gradual removal of barriers in access to culture, as well as filing of national heritage riches.
Investing in culture
The government has been gradually increasing outlays for culture. In 2005 they amounted to PLN 1 billion, while in 2007 to PLN 1.28 billion, and PLN 1.82 billion in 2011. European funds are included in these figures. PLN 2.3 billion from this pool has been earmarked for the development of culture between 2007 and 2013. Poland has benefited the most from the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the 2004-2009 period. EUR 87.7 million (over PLN 350 million) has been spent on cultural investment from this source.
Victorious architectural project for the construction of the Museum of the Second World War. The cost of the entire project will be covered by state budget. The Museum will open in 2014.Cultural education
Never in the Polish history, have the Ministry of Culture and the institutions subordinated to it conducted so many so diversified programmes and cultural education schemes for the youngest. Artistic Vacation, Summer in the Theatre, School Film Library, Singing Poland, Rhythm and Chopin multimedia publisher, are just few examples of the implemented educational projects. More than PLN 100 million is earmarked for this purpose. Fine arts and music, as separate school subjects, returned to 1-3 forms in the 2009/2010 school year. In April 2010, an Academy of Art was established in Szczecin. It is the 19th public artistic academy in Poland and the only one to offer music and visual courses.
Access to culture
In October 2010, the Government adopted a long term programme, “Culture+” , aimed at improving access to culture and boosting cultural participation among local communities, focusing in particular on rural and rural-urban areas.
The programme envisages modernisation of objects used in cultural activity and the establishment of modern posts conducive to the activeness of local communities and social development. The “Library+” programme, among others, is implemented within this scheme.
The objective of the “Library+” programme is to transform public libraries in Poland into modern centres facilitating access to knowledge and culture as well as social life centres. Communal public libraries, and especially rural and rural-urban commune ones as well as small urban communes up to 15,000 inhabitants, will be the main beneficiaries of the programme. It concentrates on launching a uniform MAK+ computer system facilitating management of library collections, exchange of information and lending books between libraries, trainings for librarians to be able to cope with their new competences, access to broad-band Internet and means for architectural modernisation of libraries and purchase of equipment. Thanks to the implementation of the programme, the number of rural libraries equipped with computers and access to the Internet is growing steadily. Under the agreement with the Polish Television, nearly 3,500 posts were connected to broadband Internet network by the mid-2010.
Actions undertaken in order to increase access to cultural riches also include digitalisation of Polish national heritage. Four Competence Centres, including the National Audiovisual Institute, were established in 2009. Their main task concerns digitalisation of audiovisual riches, their dissemination, and promotion. Education concerning audiovisual media is an additional task.
Monument conservation
Monument conservation is an investment in national identity and historic remembrance. In 2009, the government launched new regulations concerning care of monuments augmenting opportunities for their protection. Currently, the monuments are protected by the entry to the registry of monuments, their recognition as historical monuments, the establishment of a cultural park and protection in the local spatial management plan.
Kubicki’s Arcades in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Their revitalisation and adaptation was completed in 2009 and they were for the first time open to the public.New museums
New museums are being established with government’s assistance. One of the most important, is the Chopin Museum in the Ostrogski Palace in Warsaw opened in March 2010. State budget earmarked more than PLN 36 million for its construction.
The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a modern multimedia post presenting the fate and the history of Jews on Polish territories, is another important building. It will house an interactive educational centre, a library open for general use, as well as conference halls. The government earmarked PLN 98 million for the construction of the object. The total cost of the implementation of the undertaking amounts to some PLN 200 million. The Museum will be opened in 2012.
The government also aids the construction of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, which will show Poland’s tragic fate in the years 1939-1945 on the background of other nations’ experiences. Military history will be the background of narration about the everyday life of civilians and soldiers, the occupational terror, genocide, diplomacy, and grand politics. Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented the idea of establishing the Museum in December 2007. Until now, the international competitions for the project of the building and the exposition itself have been decided. The total cost of construction – PLN 358,4 million – will be financed in whole from the state budget. The Museum will be made available to the public in 2014.
Work is also underway connected with the construction of the Museum of the History of Poland, the opening of which is planned for the years 2012-2013. It will present the most important events from our country’s history. The cost of the project totals some PLN 300 million, 80 percent of which will come from European Union resources.
Of the concluded projects, mention should be made inter alia of Kubicki’s Arcades at the Warsaw Royal Castle and the refurbished Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in Kraków.
Investing in culture
The government has been gradually increasing outlays for culture. In 2005 they amounted to PLN 1 billion, while in 2007 to PLN 1.28 billion, and PLN 1.82 billion in 2011. European funds are included in these figures. PLN 2.3 billion from this pool has been earmarked for the development of culture between 2007 and 2013. Poland has benefited the most from the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the 2004-2009 period. EUR 87.7 million (over PLN 350 million) has been spent on cultural investment from this source.
Victorious architectural project for the construction of the Museum of the Second World War. The cost of the entire project will be covered by state budget. The Museum will open in 2014.Cultural educationNever in the Polish history, have the Ministry of Culture and the institutions subordinated to it conducted so many so diversified programmes and cultural education schemes for the youngest. Artistic Vacation, Summer in the Theatre, School Film Library, Singing Poland, Rhythm and Chopin multimedia publisher, are just few examples of the implemented educational projects. More than PLN 100 million is earmarked for this purpose. Fine arts and music, as separate school subjects, returned to 1-3 forms in the 2009/2010 school year. In April 2010, an Academy of Art was established in Szczecin. It is the 19th public artistic academy in Poland and the only one to offer music and visual courses.
Access to culture
In October 2010, the Government adopted a long term programme, “Culture+” , aimed at improving access to culture and boosting cultural participation among local communities, focusing in particular on rural and rural-urban areas.
The programme envisages modernisation of objects used in cultural activity and the establishment of modern posts conducive to the activeness of local communities and social development. The “Library+” programme, among others, is implemented within this scheme.
The objective of the “Library+” programme is to transform public libraries in Poland into modern centres facilitating access to knowledge and culture as well as social life centres. Communal public libraries, and especially rural and rural-urban commune ones as well as small urban communes up to 15,000 inhabitants, will be the main beneficiaries of the programme. It concentrates on launching a uniform MAK+ computer system facilitating management of library collections, exchange of information and lending books between libraries, trainings for librarians to be able to cope with their new competences, access to broad-band Internet and means for architectural modernisation of libraries and purchase of equipment. Thanks to the implementation of the programme, the number of rural libraries equipped with computers and access to the Internet is growing steadily. Under the agreement with the Polish Television, nearly 3,500 posts were connected to broadband Internet network by the mid-2010.
Actions undertaken in order to increase access to cultural riches also include digitalisation of Polish national heritage. Four Competence Centres, including the National Audiovisual Institute, were established in 2009. Their main task concerns digitalisation of audiovisual riches, their dissemination, and promotion. Education concerning audiovisual media is an additional task.
Monument conservation
Monument conservation is an investment in national identity and historic remembrance. In 2009, the government launched new regulations concerning care of monuments augmenting opportunities for their protection. Currently, the monuments are protected by the entry to the registry of monuments, their recognition as historical monuments, the establishment of a cultural park and protection in the local spatial management plan.
Kubicki’s Arcades in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Their revitalisation and adaptation was completed in 2009 and they were for the first time open to the public.New museumsNew museums are being established with government’s assistance. One of the most important, is the Chopin Museum in the Ostrogski Palace in Warsaw opened in March 2010. State budget earmarked more than PLN 36 million for its construction.
The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a modern multimedia post presenting the fate and the history of Jews on Polish territories, is another important building. It will house an interactive educational centre, a library open for general use, as well as conference halls. The government earmarked PLN 98 million for the construction of the object. The total cost of the implementation of the undertaking amounts to some PLN 200 million. The Museum will be opened in 2012.
The government also aids the construction of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, which will show Poland’s tragic fate in the years 1939-1945 on the background of other nations’ experiences. Military history will be the background of narration about the everyday life of civilians and soldiers, the occupational terror, genocide, diplomacy, and grand politics. Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented the idea of establishing the Museum in December 2007. Until now, the international competitions for the project of the building and the exposition itself have been decided. The total cost of construction – PLN 358,4 million – will be financed in whole from the state budget. The Museum will be made available to the public in 2014.
Work is also underway connected with the construction of the Museum of the History of Poland, the opening of which is planned for the years 2012-2013. It will present the most important events from our country’s history. The cost of the project totals some PLN 300 million, 80 percent of which will come from European Union resources.
Of the concluded projects, mention should be made inter alia of Kubicki’s Arcades at the Warsaw Royal Castle and the refurbished Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in Kraków.