Man (from) culture

We invite you to the next meeting of the new series “Man (from) culture” in the Palace of Immortality. Our format consists of conversations with artists and cultural managers whose professional and artistic path is inextricably linked with Krakow and Polish art. In the year of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Andrzej Wajda — the search for the gene of culture that makes Poland such a diverse place, Krakow one of the most important cultural cities in Europe — we are looking for a Man from... culture. We want to meet at the border of art, cultural education and humanistic management. Discussions will take place in the Palace of Immortality, which in its creed has ideas of culture and development. Our discussions will be recorded in the form of podcasts, and we would like to conclude the series with a sectoral conference. Free admission!

29 September 18:00, Palace of Immortality, Krakowska 13: Robert Piaskowski.

After Jan Klac and Magdalena Sroka, the guest of the next meeting of the series will be Robert Piaskowski — cultural manager, former Plenipotentiary of the City of Krakow for culture, and currently director of the National Cultural Centre. Robert Piaskowski is a cultural manager and animator, educator, musician. He studied Polish studies, sociology, social sciences, as well as cultural diplomacy at the Jagiellonian Universities, the University of Provence Aix-Marseille and the Collegium Civitas in Warsaw.

The conversation will be devoted to the people and institutions that co-create the cultural life of Poland. How is the role of culture changing in the 21st century? How can we build spaces open to dialogue, diversity and community? What challenges do cultural institutions and their leaders face today?

27 October 18:00, Palace of Immortality, Krakowska 13: Delfina Jałowik

About the managed public institution, challenges and problems. Delfina Jałowik, director of the Krakow Bunker Sztuki, studied philosophy and art history at the Ruprecht and Charles University in Heidelberg, the Humboldt University in Berlin and the Jagiellonian University. Curator and Head of the Exhibition Organization Department at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK, author and editor of publications on contemporary art and aesthetics. Co-author of the short documentary EVA & ADELE. Joint Artwork.

June 2 (Tuesday) at 18:00, Palace of Immortality: Magdalena Sroka

The parenthesis in the title is intentional. “Z” is at the same time a man from culture (he comes from it, he grew up in it) and a man from Krakow (connected to the city). Referring to Wajda's filmography, in the year of the 100th anniversary of his birth, gives the project a historical dimension and seeks narrative references in the present, which the Oscar winner so ably found. In our discussion there will be a holistic view of Polish and European culture, its changes and trends. We will not shy away from talks about the barrenness of legal solutions and the burying of many deep structural reforms. The importance and meaning of cultural institutions. The status of female artists is still not secured, and a large part of culture is “made” in third sector organizations.

Magdalena Sroka — from Cracow, cultural manager, producer and coordinator of major cultural, festival, entertainment and sports events. Co-creator of strategic documents and public policies. Graduate of the Jagiellonian University (Polish philology, specialization: theatrology). In the years 1998-2003 she was associated with the Krakow 2000 Festival Office, where she was responsible for cultural projects related to the title of European Capital of Culture received by Krakow. She co-created the first Krakow promotion strategy for 2003-2007. She cooperated with the Expo 2005 program office. In 2003-2008 she organized the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in cooperation with Elżbieta Penderecka and served as the director of the Beethoven Association office.

In 2008, she won a competition for the position of director of the Krakow Festival Office and was responsible for the development of the city's cultural and festival offer. She is the creator of the Krakow Film Commission and the Regional Film Fund in Krakow and an expert of the Congress of Polish Culture. In the years 2010-2015, he was vice-president of Krakow for culture, promotion of the city, tourism and sport. In 2015, she unanimously won a competition for the position of director of the Polish Film Institute, a position she held until 2017. She then served as CEO of Alvernia Planet, part of the international Gremi International group. Creative Director of OFF CAMERA Festival and Warsaw SerialCon.

14 May 17:00 Jan Klat's Palace of Immortality

Director of the National Theatre in Warsaw, former director of the National Old Theatre, theatre director, playwright, academic lecturer, since September 2025 director of the National Theatre in Warsaw. Winner of, among others, the Polityka Passport and the Konrad Swinarski Prize.