Cienkowska attended the concerts by the Leopoldinum string orchestra from Wrocław and by the Volosi ensemble from the Beskidy Mountains in southern Poland. The programme of “Focus on Poland” comprises nine concerts featuring Polish music from the Renaissance to the present, running until August 18.
The website of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage cites Cienkowska as saying that “it is for the first time in the history of the Edinburgh International Festival that “Focus on Poland” has become a part of what is one of the world’s top events in the field of classical music and performative arts”.
She added: “It is a moment when Polish art, music and sensitivity are confronted with the international audience, serving as a source of inspiration and building bridges above frontiers.”
Cienkowska stressed that Britain is one of Poland’s key partners.
“Our intention is to make culture a foundation for building lasting cooperation between Poland and the U.K. Projects such as “Focus on Poland” and the remaining elements of the U.K./Poland Season create a durable socio-cultural effect and strengthen Poland’s trademark”, she said.
“Focus on Poland” is part of the UK/Poland Season 2025 project organized by the British Council, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Warsaw and the Polish Cultural Institute in London. It lasts until November and comprises more than 100 events in 40 cities in both countries.
While in Edinburgh, Cienkowska met Richard Demarco, an artist, impresario and promoter of contemporary art who has long been involved in developing cultural bonds with Poland. They discussed plans to transfer a sizeable part of Demarco’s art collection to the Art Museum in Łódź, central Poland. It comprises more than 1,300 items - works of art, photographs, catalogues, recordings, posters, films and correspondence with artists, including works by such acclaimed figures as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Tadeusz Kantor, Joseph Beuys, Pat Douthwaite, and Daniel Spoerri.
Having viewed the collection in Demarco’s company, the Polish official praised it as being of “key importance in the research on avant-garde, conceptual and performance art, as well on 20th-century trans-national artistic networks.”
(mk/mp)