The Polish Year in Israel will be inaugurated in April this year. It will open with a show at the opera in Tel Aviv, prepared by the eminent director Mariusz Treliński. The main aim of the project is to promote Poland through culture, which is meant to bring societies closer. We want to achieve our aim by strengthening cultural, scientific and tourist contacts, and to bring about long-term cooperation between institutions of both countries.
International cultural projects, such as these, help build an image of Poland as a country that is open, modern and with huge cultural potential. This is particularly important among societies where knowledge about Poland is burdened by stereotypes and difficult moments of shared history. It is essential to cooperate with the Polish Diaspora and its institutions which nurture Polish identity.
The Polish season in Israel rests on five pillars of culture: literature, music, theatre, film and fine arts. The entire programme is to be a presentation of the comprehensive, multi-layered and important Polish contribution to world heritage. An important objective of the Polish season in Israel is to reach those people who up until now were not interested in Polish culture or knew Poland only in the context of the painful Holocaust events.
The Polish season in Israel is part of the government’s strategic programme to promote Poland. Culture is the most recognisable Polish brand in the world, and it is important to me that it continues to develop. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute, which plays a key role in the promotion of Polish culture abroad, is responsible for organising the Polish season. I intend to strengthen the institute’s responsibilities, both through restructuring it and doubling its budget. I want it to become a strong, effective and recognisable institution representing Poland in the best possible dimension.