"Sustainable capital - from Brussels to Chisinau" - the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage sums up the Polish presidency of the EU Council

The extensive cultural programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, assumed a multi-level approach to the presidency from the outset. Over the course of six months, Poland proved that a culture-based strategy is not an ornament, but a concrete tool for international influence, understanding and uniting European societies.

The result? Over 550 events, almost 500,000 participants, 3,000 artists and the initiation of long-term processes that will define the cultural policy of the European Union in the coming years.

- We inspired a debate on the situation of young creators in Europe, we started work on the "Cultural Compass", we raised key issues related to technology, copyright and cultural security. Our activities gained recognition from all member states, because we spoke with the voice of the community and were able to seek agreement where it had not been there before - said Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

– Today we are summarizing the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, but its effects do not end there. This is Poland's lasting contribution to shaping the cultural identity of Europe. I am convinced that Denmark, now taking over the presidency, will continue what we started together. I believe that the values ​​and directions set during the Polish presidency will also find their place in their program and further actions of the Union – she added.

Already in December 2024, Poland announced with great gusto that its presidency would be based on three values: youth, solidarity, security . As Minister Hanna Wróblewska pointed out, the activities were carried out in parallel on three levels, and each of them brought concrete results and built lasting effects.

Young creators - equal opportunities throughout the EU

The Polish Presidency has become a space for addressing previously neglected topics. Particular attention was paid to the situation of young artists. To this end , the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage commissioned a comprehensive analysis of their working conditions and professional status in the 27 countries of the European Union. The study, conducted by Prof. Marek Krajewski, revealed significant inequalities and gaps in systemic support for young artists and at the same time indicated good practices of individual member states that can be disseminated throughout Europe.

Around this topic, the Ministry of Culture organised the first pan-European conference "Young Artists – Challenges and Reality", which became a space for joint reflection of decision-makers and representatives of the young generation on their real needs and problems.

- The effect of our actions was the adoption of the EU Council conclusions, which for the first time so clearly draw attention to the mental health of creators and the need to improve social security. We also spoke in favour of strengthening artistic education and developing scholarship programmes, as well as increasing the participation of young creators in the Creative Europe programme. These are specific provisions that have the potential to really change the situation of hundreds of thousands of young people in Europe working in the cultural sector. I am glad that we managed to reach full agreement on this matter among all Member States and that Poland was the initiator of these postulates - emphasised Hanna Wróblewska.

"Cultural Compass" in the European Union

Poland has played an active role in the European debate on culture as an initiator and leader. Thanks to the intensive work of the Polish administration in the EU Council, it was possible to start work on the "Cultural Compass", a strategic document for the entire European Union. In the coming years, it is to set common goals in areas such as digitalization, mobility, sustainable development of the cultural sector and inclusiveness. The compass is also to be the foundation for work on the future EU budget (for 2028-2034), setting priorities for programs such as Creative Europe. Thanks to this, European cultural policy will be able to count on even more targeted and stable budget support.

Artificial Intelligence vs. Creators in the European Union

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Hanna Wróblewska, Poland has ceased to be a passive participant in the European cultural dialogue. It has become its leader and initiator. In recent months, an international debate has been initiated on technological challenges in the context of copyright, disinformation and digital competences – not as a topic of the future, but as a key dimension of cultural security here and now.

The conference "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Copyright Law and the Media and Creative Sectors" attracted hundreds of experts and practitioners of working with artificial intelligence in creative sectors to Łódź.

The summary of months of consultations with EU countries was the adoption of the EU Council conclusions recommending that the European Commission evaluate the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, with particular emphasis on the protection of minors, revising the obligations of big tech companies, as well as increasing equal competition in the media market, combating disinformation and supporting content with social values, including media education.

- At the end of the Polish presidency, we published the Stocktaking paper. This document was created in cooperation with EU countries and is the first such comprehensive analysis of barriers in content licensing for artificial intelligence and digital platforms, as well as problems related to the remuneration of creators in this context. This is a very important work that will serve to update the DSM (Digital Single Market) directive. Thanks to this document, we have finally diagnosed the real obstacles and needs of the creative sector in Europe in the era of AI. This work will allow us to prepare better, fairer regulations that protect the interests of creators and provide clear rules of the game for technology - concluded Marta Cienkowska.

Poland abroad - 30 countries, 200 events, 1200 Polish artists

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute was responsible for preparing and implementing the foreign cultural programme. As its deputy director, Olga Brzezińska, emphasised, these activities were not limited to promotion, but were a real tool for strengthening Poland's position in Europe:

- The capital that we gain from these activities is the lasting presence of Polish art on international stages - from Brussels to Chisinau.

Over 200 events with the participation of over 1,200 Polish artists took place in over 30 European countries.

- It is thanks to these activities that the Polish young art scene has gained a new level of recognition. As a result, it has set a lasting direction for the interest in the younger generation on the part of curators, collectors and institutions throughout Europe - continued Olga Brzezińska.

The foreign cultural programme was also the result of close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thanks to this, it was possible to invite artists from countries affected by war to Poland, creating a safe space for them to work and exchange experiences. In this way, Poland built the image of a country open to dialogue, responsible and actively responding to global challenges.

- When we started the foreign cultural program of the Polish presidency, we asked ourselves: can culture really unite? Today, after six intensive months, hundreds of events and dozens of inspiring collaborations, we know that it can and does unite. As our program's slogan says: "Culture Sparks Unity" - it is culture that provides the spark that ignites hearts and minds to be together and build community - said Olga Brzezińska, deputy director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

The third level of the presidency program was coordinated by the National Center for Culture. Robert Piaskowski, the director of the institution, pointed out that the greatest value of this program was its decentralization. Presidency events took place not only in Warsaw, but in almost every corner of Poland.

- The domestic and foreign cultural programmes complemented each other. Many projects were created in dialogue with other organisations and institutions, in order to speak together with many voices – not as a series of separate events, but as a coherent narrative that gives a modern dimension to cultural policy.

Slogans such as: solidarity, intercultural exchange, support for young artists and decentralization resonated particularly strongly during 250 events carried out in cooperation with almost 500 institutions: local government, national and non-governmental. We were present in almost every corner of the country - from large metropolises to small towns. And most importantly - 95 percent of these events were fully accessible to all citizens, building community through culture - said Robert Piaskowski, director of the National Center for Culture.

As part of the national cultural programme, a total of 250 events were organised in cooperation with cities and non-governmental organisations. 1,100 artists performed on stages across the country. The programme culminated in the final concerts in five cities at the same time, which gathered a total of 50,000 live viewers and half a million viewers in front of TV sets. Thanks to these numerous local initiatives, the presidency programme reached 28 million Polish women and men.