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dr Olga Wysocka

Director (until 20th May 2024; from 1st May Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute)

(she/her)

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I am a political scientist by training, having obtained my PhD in political science from the European University Institute in Florence. In pursuit of my fascination with the phenomenon of populism, I went on to research the causes of its occurrence in Poland. The subject continues to be my primary area of interest. As a recipient of the Józef Tischner Fellowship at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, I explored the topic of populism in Central and Eastern Europe. I also learned much during my fellowship at the Leadership Academy for Poland.

My innate curiosity about the world and people inspired my choices and paved the way for the diverse experiences and opportunities I pursued. Before joining WOK, I worked at Zachęta – National Gallery of Art as Deputy Director (2018–2022), observing ideologically-inspired changes in the institution’s management in 2022. I worked as Deputy Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM) from 2014 to 2018 and managed international projects at the IAM from 2010 to 2014 (Polish Presidency of the EU Council and Poland – Turkey 2014). I gained unique managerial experience there and worked with an amazing team. In the early days of my career, I worked at the Polish Institute in Berlin and collaborated with the editorial team of DIALOG. Polish-German Magazine. I bring the experience gained in such diverse places across Europe to WOK.

I have been living on the ‘other side of the Vistula’ in Warsaw for ten years now. To me, the daily crossing of the river has a metaphorical dimension. I love the diversity and multidimensionality of the Polish capital but also enjoy the squawking of seagulls at the seaside. Lately, I have been practising mindfulness and endorsing the ‘sitting still like a frog’ approach.

Photo by KANAPLEIDIKI

By this author

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Being a Director: Anna Rochowska

Is it possible to run a large municipal theatre, known for its high artistic aspirations in a sensitive, inclusive and humane way? Anna Rochowska, director of TR Warszawa, talks about her daily challenges in trying to mix fire and water.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

Being a Director: Alicja Brudło

Community culture centres are not what they seem. The Ochota Culture Centre OKO is certainly not. Alicja Brudło, director of OKO, talks about running a multi-generational public institution with grass-roots energy, combining art and animation of the diverse local community.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

Being a Director: Karolina Ziębińska

The Museum of Warsaw, together with its branches, is a group of 10 institutions with 260 employees. Its director, Karolina Ziębińska, talks about the challenges of managing an institution with such a complex structure, which is at the same time searching for its own identity at the intersection of the idea of a historical museum, a modern art gallery, and a place of remembrance and local activities.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

PODCAST: In the midst of political tensions. A conversation with Paweł Łysak

The British Brutalists, cultural activism and a theatre attacked by right-wing extremists - Paweł Łysak, director of Warsaw's Powszechny Theatre, talks about the behind-the-scenes work of running an institution in the midst of political tensions.

On the WOK.radar

PODCAST: Like fire and water. A conversation with Anna Rochowska

Is it possible to manage a large urban theater known for its high artistic aspirations in an empathetic, inclusive, and humane way? Anna Rochowska, the director of TR Warszawa, reveals the challenges she faces while trying to reconcile seemingly contradictory elements.

On the WOK.radar

PODCAST: The museum is ours. A conversation with Joanna Mytkowska

Will the new model for a cultural institution be an outlet in a state of constant formation, uninterrupted transformation and repurposing? How do you manage a museum that is constantly migrating, under construction, shrinking and expanding its space? Joanna Mytkowska, the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw talks about managing an elusive structure.

On the WOK.radar

Being a Director: Paweł Łysak

The British Brutalists, cultural activism and a theatre attacked by right-wing extremists - Paweł Łysak, director of Warsaw's Powszechny Theatre, talks about the behind-the-scenes work of running an institution in the midst of political tensions.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

Being a Director: Paweł Płoski

How can popular culture be presented in museums? Is the pursuit of pleasure and the intention to make people laugh ambitious enough for an institution? Can we tell a meme? Find out how Paweł Płoski, director of the Warsaw Caricature Museum, sees his role.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

Being a Director: Joanna Mytkowska

Will the new model for a cultural institution be an outlet in a state of constant formation, uninterrupted transformation and repurposing? How do you manage a museum that is constantly migrating, under construction, shrinking and expanding its space? Joanna Mytkowska, the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw talks about managing an elusive structure.

WOK.cast: Being a Director

Stepping to a dance institution in Warsaw

Since September 2023, Warsaw Observatory of Culture has been supporting a process of establishing Warsaw’s Pavilion of Dance. So far we were bringing together the Warsaw’s dance community, Bureau of Culture, and Museum of Modern Art to work out the terms of the open call for the pilot programming at the Pavilion and to discuss the needs for accommodating the building of Pavilion on the Vistula to the needs of dance communit. We were also fueling the dance community with knowledge during the workshops we organized.

Artistic and Research Projects

The Institutions of Culture Revolt

The guest speakers invited to a panel discussion about the international governance management practices for institutions of culture in the context of contemporary social and political challenges were as follows: Bart de Baere, long-time Director of the M HKA, or the Contemporary Art Museum in Antwerp, chairman of the Museum Watch programme and co-author of the "Governance Management Project", and Dr Aleksandra Janus, Director of the Centrum Cyfrowe, researcher and curator of cultural projects, co-author of the Museum Laboratory project.

Change: Institutions of Culture

Change: Institutions of Culture

Institutions of culture worldwide have found themselves at a watershed moment. They can pursue their mission and realise their growth potential at a time of unprecedented accumulation of negative external factors, which we have not seen for many years. On top of the challenges related to the development of technology, climate change, armed conflicts, and subsequent waves of migration, we now have to deal with the tensions connected with the populist turn and, as a consequence, the change of priorities in cultural policy.

Artistic and Research Projects

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dr Małgorzata Bakalarz-Duverger

Marta Michalak