The Labor Union of the Association of Polish Theatre Directors sent an open letter to the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr Gliński and the State Secretary Wanda Winogrodska. Although the directors appreciated the grant program “Culture in the Net” (Kultura w sieci), they also address many issues associated with it.

Another open letter was written by the Initiative of Playwrights and Dramaturgs. Its main mission was to approach Polish theatre workers and students of theatre to map issues caused by the special measures related to the pandemic – interrupted projects, suspended salaries, and other issues that may not be directly related to the pandemic, yet are the long-term problems in the sector of performing arts. The initiative was founded after discussions with the Labor Union of the Association of Polish Directors to get feedback not only from theatremakers, but also to establish connections with other partners, as well as to get the legal identity in looking for the conceptual solutions to the challenges in Polish performing arts. The letter also includes the questionnaire for theatremakers, focused on the influence of the current state on their work and career.

The initiative “Alert Kultura” is part of the Open Eyes Economy Summit and the College of Economy and Public Administration at the University of Economics in Krakow. The group of professionals draws attention to the share of culture in the national economy. The signatories emphasize the need to introduce supporting measures in three areas: maintaining the creative potential in the cultural sector and related sectors, providing the conditions and rules necessary for cultural activities on digital platforms (including the change in the distribution of money gained from publishing pieces of art in favor of the authors), as well as consolidation and integration of cultural organizations linked to the support of professional solidarity. Measures in the three areas will lead to the confirmation of the status of culture as an important part of society, but it will also contribute to a social truce when dealing with the future impacts of the pandemic.

The summary was written by Anna Gnot from the Institute for Czech Literature, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic