The new Olga Tokarczuk Foundation, based in the southwestern Polish city of Wrocław, will also aim to “promote pro-environmental, anti-discrimination and civil society activities,” local authorities have said.
Wrocław City Hall has said in a statement that the new foundation will support the comprehensive development of Poland’s southwestern Lower Silesia region, “engage in cross-border cooperation and promote Polish culture worldwide and international culture in Poland.”
It quoted Tokarczuk as saying that work to establish the foundation was still under way, “but we already know what we want to do.”
Tokarczuk, who was in October named the winner of the 2018 Nobel literature prize, added: “I want the foundation to focus on things that are dear to me, hence the protection of the natural environment.”
Tokarczuk plans to donate to the foundation PLN 350,000 in cash, part of the money she has won along with her Nobel Prize, City Hall said.
She will run the foundation with the help of figures including film director Agnieszka Holland, according to City Hall spokesman Tomasz Myszko-Wolski.
Tokarczuk said at a meeting with readers in Wrocław in October that literature has no borders and that it brings people across cultures and nations together.
The Nobel laureate earlier told Polish broadcaster TVN that she was proud her books could be read universally and appeal to people around the world.
Tokarczuk was on October 10 named the winner of the world’s most prestigious literary award, along with a cheque for almost USD 1 million.
She will collect her award at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.
Wrocław City Hall says a large screen will be placed at the city's Market Square that day for the public to watch a broadcast of the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in the Swedish capital, including Tokarczuk’s acceptance speech.
(gs/pk)
Source: Wrocław City Hall