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Polonicus – the prize of the European Polonia

“It is not easy to build a new life far away from your homeland and to then still be creative as well. By persevering, many of us have established ourselves socially and financially without denying our culture roots. Through honest work and European universalism the Polonia [Translator’s note: Polonia is a collective word for Poland and for people who come from Poland who live in the diaspora around the world] or Polish diaspora managed to be accepted in their new home. We can integrate in a way that allows us to enrich our new social environment by placing our own national emphasis in the widely understood European culture. That is why we should respect each other because that is when we will be respected by others,” stresses Wiesław Lewicki, source of ideas and main organiser of the awards ceremony for the Polonicus prize.

Jaro Schlesiona, Polonicus, digital graphic arts

www.institut-polonicus.eu

Furthermore, outstanding creative artists, such as Krystyna Janda, the first lady of Polish theatre and film, Andrzej Wajda, as director and Oscar winner for his lifetime achievement and Agnieszka Holland, the director and winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, also belong to the Polonicus family. At the time, the award was accepted by her daughter Kasia Adamik in Aachen. She read out a letter from the award-winning Polish artist which stated: “Polish culture owes its greatness to the variety, the openness, the quest for truth, justice and ultimately for freedom. Culture is always controversial, vibrant, creative and free of political and partisan pressure.”

Wiesław Lewicki, the Director of the European Institute for Culture and Media Polonicus VoG (Europejski Instytut Kultury i Mediów Polonicus VoG) and spiritus movens of the Polonicus prize, who has organised the unique event for the last eleven years, tries every year to relate the award ceremony to International Polonia day, which is held in Poland on 2 May every year. In all this, however, it is not just the time of the Polonicus celebrations that is special but also the place in which they are held, this being the City of Aachen in the border triangle of Germany, Holland and Belgium, which was the seat of Emperor Charlemagne the Great around the turn of the 8th and 9th century and which today is still considered the stronghold of European integration. But the Coronation Hall in Aachen Town Hall is also legendary for Poles because it is here that Pope John Paul II, Bronisław Geremek and Donald Tusk were awarded the International Charlemagne Prize, which is also awarded annually, for their outstanding contribution to peace and unity in Europe. Today the Polonicus prize is a prestigious token of the European Polonia, which is dedicated to the European dialogue, the unification process and the achievements of Poles in the world. It has found its place in the calendar of important events in Europe. The Polonicus prize is needed by Poles at home and abroad to give ourselves the respect we deserve wherever we live.

Agata Lewandowski, August 2020