Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004 and the growing availability of EU structural funds significantly accelerated the development of cultural infrastructure. During the years of the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) and Polish People’s Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe) coalition government (2007–2015), substantial investments were made in new cultural institutions and facilities, often co-financed by European funds. This period saw the construction of landmark buildings such as the new Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin, alongside numerous museums, concert halls, and cultural centres across the country. The focus of cultural policy was placed on infrastructure development, cultural education, digitalisation programmes, and widening access to culture. At the same time, public debate increasingly addressed the socio-economic role of culture and cultural industries. However, despite large-scale investments, the government was criticised for insufficient attention to the precarious financial and professional situation of artists, which culminated in the first artists’ strike organised in 2012 under the slogan “A Day Without Art.”
Between 2015 and 2023, the parliamentary majority in Poland was held by the right-wing alliance “The United Right” (Zjednoczona Prawica), led by the political party Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość). Piotr Gliński served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and after 2020 as Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport. The priority framework of cultural policy during this period focused strongly on historically-oriented policies, including the preservation of monuments and the promotion of Polish history and identity, for example through the long-term programme commemorating the 100th anniversary of Polish independence. At the same time, the scope of state intervention in culture expanded to include cultural and creative industries such as video games, design and architecture.
During the public debate, representatives of the cultural sector accused the Minister of Culture of the interference in the internal affairs of public institutions, such as recruitment decisions and programming (conflicts arose surrounding such institutions as the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk or the Polish Film Institute). Another strong criticism concerned the politicisation of the news broadcasted by public television.
Following the parliamentary elections of 15 October 2023, the United Right lost its parliamentary majority and a new coalition government led by Donald Tusk took office in December 2023. Since December 2023, the position of Minister of Culture and National Heritage has been held successively by Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz — a politician and former Minister of the Interior, Hanna Wróblewska — a cultural manager and art gallery director, and currently Marta Cienkowska — a public official involved in cultural development and cooperation with creative institutions.
In the field of culture, the new government declared a shift toward depoliticisation, greater transparency of decision-making processes, open competitions for directors of public cultural institutions, reform of ministerial grant programmes, broader dialogue with the cultural sector and renewed legislative work concerning the social security system for artists and cultural professionals.
After December 2023, the debate on public media intensified further. The new Minister of Culture replaced the management boards of public television, public radio and the Polish Press Agency (PAP), and placed public media companies into liquidation (see 2.4.3).
Since 2023, current cultural policy debates have focused on governance reforms, transparent recruitment procedures in public institutions, reform of the Minister’s grant programmes, legislative work concerning artists’ social security, implementation of internet royalties under the EU DSM framework, and the preparation of long-term strategic documents such as the Strategy for Culture 2050. Public support for cultural infrastructure has also continued through European Union funds as well as EEA and Norwegian financial. Since the end of 2023, there has been a broad replacement of directors of cultural institutions at both the national and local-government levels, while the government has more often than before declared and applied competitive selection procedures as a method for appointing new directors.
In 2025, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage announced work on a long-term “Strategy for Culture 2050”, intended to become the first comprehensive strategic framework for the development of culture in Poland in several decades. According to the Ministry, the strategy is expected to address the long-term social, technological, territorial and economic challenges affecting the cultural sector, including demographic change, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, regional inequalities and sustainable development. As part of this process, the Ministry announced the establishment of a new Department of Analysis and Strategy responsible for coordinating strategic planning, cooperation with local governments and evidence-based cultural policy development.
The priorities presented by the Ministry after 2023 emphasise strengthening local and regional cultural institutions, improving access to culture outside major urban centres, supporting non-governmental organisations and continuing systemic legislative reforms concerning the status and social protection of artists and cultural professionals. The strategy also links culture more strongly with social cohesion, territorial development, media pluralism and democratic participation.
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