A detailed programme has been unveiled for the schedule of Polska Year – a year-long celebration of Polish culture in the United Kingdom.

A joint initiative of the Polish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture and National Heritage, it is organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in collaboration with numerous British institutions.

It will be officially launched on 30 April with a concert marking Poland’s Constitution Day (3 May) at London’s Cadogan Hall.

The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Jacek Kaspszyk will perform works by Polish composers Andrzej Panufnik, Witold Lutoslawski and Mieczysław Karłowicz. Highlights of Polska! Year include Penderecki’s St Luke Passion at Canterbury Cathedral, a conference on contemporary Polish music, the Polish edition of ‘Late at Tate’ at Tate Britain in London devoted to Polish art and music, an event devoted to the late Polish writer and journalist Ryszard Kapuścinski and an exhibition on the theatre reformer Jerzy Grotowski at the Centre for Performance Research in Aberystwyth. Theatre performances, films and art exhibitions will be held in numerous venues in twenty six towns.

Addressing a press conference in Warsaw, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: ‘It is our ambition to present the comprehensive and up-to-date information about Poland, its culture and history to the broadest sections of British society. We want to show that today’s Poland is a country of well-educated people, full of enterprise and creative spirit, who are not afraid to stand up to new challenges.’

The honorary patrons of Polska! Year are Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński. (mk)