Examplary cultural projects implemented in cooperation with partners from developing countries

Due to various approaches and names accepted for definitions of developing countries, the report is based on the DAC list, according to which the OECD qualifies beneficiaries of the official development support. The list of programmes related to these countries is attached in section 3 of the Annex (tables 13 – 15). Poland supports the development of countries listed on the DAC list through measures implemented under bilateral cooperation programmes, co-organising cultural events, payments for international organisations and direct support for individual artists and authors.

In the years 2008 – 2011 the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has made payments for the UNESCO World Heritage Fund and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) pursuant to financial recommendations of the OECD. In 2008 the Ministry also transferred funds for establishment of the trust fund by UNESCO in order to complete the report evaluating the status of the archaeological site Babylon (beneficiary: Iraq). Furthermore, in 2009 the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage supported numerous measures related to the protection of Polish cultural heritage abroad in beneficiary countries of the development countries – inter alia, the restoration of valuable monuments on the territory of Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. These measures are implemented through grants for institutions and organisations established on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage implemented also measures related to the restoration of Afghanistan, i.e. prepared a study visit aimed at the assessment of possibilities to grant support for the cultural heritage or the evaluation of the conservation status of the historic fort – the FOB warrior base.

Exemplary cultural projects implemented in the cooperation with partners from developing countries

BANGLADESH

As the result of bilateral arrangements, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has planned for 2012 granting the assistance through the secondment of two experts to Dhaka. The aim of the visit is to evaluate the status of collections after the flooding and development of the concept for rescue actions.

CHINA

Within the framework of the Chinese Culture Days organised in accordance with the protocol on the cultural cooperation between Ministries of Culture of Poland and China for the years 2007 – 2011, the Ministry of Culture and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute organised in 2009 the exhibition “Chinese Masters of Ink. Ink in Contemporary Art of the Middle Kingdom” at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and at the National Opera in Warsaw the concert of the Radio and Film Symphonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Fan Tao. In 2010 the Polish Filmmakers Association thanks to own funds and subsidies from the Polish Film Institute, organised in the Warsaw Kultura cinema the review of the contemporary Chinese cinematography. In 2011 the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute organised the concert Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra at the Concert Hall of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music and the Karol Szymanowski Krakow Philharmonic. In addition the Polish party hosted the exhibition of Chinese lacquer art and folk paintings at the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw.

INDIA

Since the signing in September 2010 the “Cultural Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Ministry of Culture of India for the years 2010 – 2013” the cultural exchange between these countries has significantly improved. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in accordance with provisions of the Programme implemented in February 2011 shows of the 10-person Bhojpuri Group. The exhibition “Generation of Transformation – New Art of India” at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw (03.09 – 06.11.2011) was almost completely financed by the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (about 48.5 thousand of EUR). In 2008 and 2011 the Adam Mickiewicz Institute organised study visits in Poland for Amal Allana – the President of the National Drama School in New Delhi and in 2011 for Ashoka Vajpeyi – the translator of the Polish literature, the Chairman of Lalit Kala Academy.

MONGOLIA

In 2010 the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage granted funds for the “Meditations. Dzanabadzar and His School Art” exhibition at the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, which was one of events related to the celebrations of 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Mongolia.

UKRAINE

As a reply to the agreement on the cooperation between governments of Poland and Ukraine concluded in relation to the organisation of EURO 2012, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage initiated the Polish – Ukrainian cultural project “European Culture Stadium”. Main objectives of the project include: developing the image of Poland and Ukraine through the promotion of the cultural diversity of both countries, creation of the common social and cultural capital, promotion, overcoming stereotypes, building respect and tolerance for other cultures.

VIETNAM

The Department of Art and Culture Education of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage supports the development of the e-learning platform, established in the cooperation with the Warsaw Arts Academy and the Polish – Japanese Institute of Information Technology. The platform shall provide knowledge related to the field of arts. One of the first countries where the platform shall be launched is Vietnam.

Examples of recurrent and multiannual projects

POLISH – UKRAINIAN YOUTH EXCHANGE

The programme is dedicated to children and youth aged 12 – 18. Grants may be applied by schools, local cultural institutions and non-governmental organisations. The aim of the programme is the mutual acquaintance of young people from Poland and Ukraine, and presentation of cultural similarities and differences. In 2010 the budget of the project amounted to 1.5 million of PLN (about 376 thousand of EUR). The programme included the implementation on the territory of Poland and Ukraine of projects, covering 1435 beneficiaries with Ukrainian citizenship.

NIEŚWIEŻ ACADEMY

The International Summer School „Nieśwież Academy” is the Polish – Belarusian project mission of which is to train conservators in the Central and Eastern Europe. Training courses are organised in two-year cycles. Each of them is dedicated to other subject related to the protection, preservation and utilisation of monuments. So far, fifteen courses were organised within the “Nieśwież Academy”. In 2011 trainings were organised in Minsk (Belarus), as well as in Warsaw and Krakow. Over 69.5 thousand of PLN (166.8 thousand of EUR) were spent on their organisation.