“Destroying a spectacle in which hundreds of volunteers took part and thousands came to watch – is barbaric,” Marzena Paczuska of the National Broadcasting Council wrote on the X platform. She was referring to information about the decision of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to withdraw funding for the outdoor performance ‘The Eagle and the Cross’. This is the largest open-air spectacle dedicated to Poland’s history in years.
The spectacle “The Eagle and the Cross” was first performed in 2016. President Andrzej Duda took part in the premiere in 2017. The Park Historical Cultural Center in Murowana Goślina describes this initiative as “the largest night show on the history of Poland” and “a spectacular story about the fate of Poland and Poles, from legends and the creation of the Polish state to the triumphs of the hussars, the Swedish flood, to regaining independence and solidarity.”
READ ALSO: “This country is the cradle of Polishness.” The president at the premiere of the historical spectacle “The Eagle and the Cross”. SEE PHOTOS
““The Eagle and the Cross” will go down in history?
Will this spectacular open-air event, which tells the history of Poland, become history?
On September 19, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage terminated the contract with the Dzie association to co-run the Cultural Center. This means there will be no money or venue for the “Eagle and Cross” spectacle.
– writes “Głos Wielkopolski”.
The Paru Histories website states that another season of shows is planned for late June and early July 2025.
There are projects and plans ready in which public money has been invested. This is the complete project for building a new set for the show “Eagle and Cross”. This is a waste of these investments
– says Michał Motyl from the Park History press service in an interview with “Głos Wielkopolski”.
Why did the ministry withdraw from funding?
Motyl rates the reasons for withdrawing funding as ‘partly bizarre’.
First of all, he points to the lack of financial resources. CK received a subsidy of PLN 3 million per year for its operation
– indicates.
CK Park Dzie was jointly established by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Dzie Association. Both entities were creators and each of them contributed some resources to the initiative. After termination of the contract, Park can no longer operate Historia.
Another reason for the termination is the commercial nature of the event. An employee of the press service recalled that the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage spent PLN 6 million last year on the purchase of land for the Park History Cultural Center. This land was to be used next year as a stage for the “Eagle and Cross” show, but after the termination of the contract the Histories Association will no longer be able to use it. And this rules out the continuation of organizing the show.
Even if the association wanted to organize shows on its own again, there is simply no room for that
– emphasizes Michał Motyl.
Record season, awards, accolades
The decision by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage is even more outrageous because “Eagle and Cross” has had a record-breaking season.
We were visited by 19,969 viewers over 10 evenings. 350 volunteers welcomed you in the parking lots, at the cash registers, in the stand and played for you on the large outdoor stage. We can’t wait to meet you again at the premiere on Saturday, June 21, 2025!
– written on the CK Park Histories Facebook profile.
The show also received awards.
The night spectacle “Eagle and Cross” with the prize “Best Tourist Product of the Year” awarded by Wielkopolska.travel 🏆, is once again confirmation of the record-breaking season realized by the Park Histories Cultural Center ❤️ Thank you! We were also nominated as a representative of Greater Poland for the election of national internet users for the Tourist Product of the Year. Are you ready to fight with us? 😃
We made it 🎉🏆 1st place in the referendum for the historical event of the year in the “event” category. Thanks to you! Thanks to 1,000 volunteers involved in creating shows over the past years 🥳 This is an incredible success for the Park DZI Cultural Center and for the residents of Greater Poland, the city of Poznań and Murowana Goślina – city and municipality. Dear viewers, supporters and friends, thank you very much for every vote you cast in the Plebiscite! We hope that thanks to the shows we can talk about the history of Poland and Poland for many years to come!
Will an appeal from the regional council help?
Indignant voices can be heard on social media.
Destroying a spectacle in which hundreds of volunteers took part and thousands came to watch is barbaric
– Marzena Paczuska of the National Broadcasting Council wrote on the X website.
The Ministry of Culture and NATIONAL HERITAGE has withdrawn funding for the largest open-air spectacle in Poland’s history, which will close after many years. asked the German
On the last day of September, the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Assembly adopted a resolution calling on the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Yesterday (September 30, 2024), the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Assembly adopted a resolution sending a call to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to withdraw from the co-management of the Park Historia Cultural Center in Murowana Goślina. We express our gratitude for the decision of the Regional Assembly, the Marshal Office of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, for taking action that will increase the chances of further production of shows in Greater Poland.
– we read on the CK Park History profile.
We already know that this government is good at destroying everything that even remotely reminded us of the previous government, such as popularizing Polish history. Can he build something himself? This is certainly more difficult.
aja/Głos Wielkopolski, X, FB, parkdzieje.pl
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.