Polish Cultural Managers: Pieces of Advice for Ukraine

Over the last 25 years, Polish culture has gone all the way from a post-Soviet model with an obsolete infrastructure to a developed ecosystem of cultural institutions, implementing a huge number of projects of all sizes. What are the factors and strategies behind Poland’s quantum leap?
  1. The best investment is practical experience. Only by implementing a project in practice would you be able to understand that, for example, organising big events does not always entail heavy financial expenses.

  2. It is better not to expect immediate results, but rather work hard and learn as much as you can, from people like successful colleagues and partners. Therefore, the more you travel and learn from the experience of colleagues and other countries, the better.

  3. Invest resources in networking with the audience. The planning of any activities should begin with an analysis of the preferences and interests of your audience.

  4. Seek out partners, build close relations with them. Form cross-sectoral partnerships (state, private sector, non-profit sector). Collaborate with cultural institutions in other countries in joint projects.

  5. Be active in international professional networks.

  6. Create and increase a demand for culture by promoting positive cases and demonstrating the accessibility of culture, personal and professional development of individuals, communities and societies.

  7. Develop cultural education. Create modern curricula in museum studies, cultural management. It is important to keep in mind the development of non-formal education. Arrange study trips and internships at an international level. Invite experts from other countries to Ukraine to share their experience.

  8. Build and develop a cultural policy that would be open to diverse experience and perspectives, encourage civil society participation, dialogue and debate, respect and mutual understanding.

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