It was a terrific partnership, and the juxtaposition of digital art with the historic Potocki Palace was a fascinating experience. Having our projects shown in such a special place in Kraków brought exciting results for both sides – many guests were able to see the palace interiors in a brand-new perspective,” says Elwira Wojtunik, artistic director of the Patchlab Digital Art Festival.

In 2021, the tenement house at 20 Main Market Square quietly became the hottest cultural spot on the city’s map. Built in the 16th century, the residential building underwent many transformations over the centuries, and the names of owners were commemorated in its changing name: it was formerly the Zbaraski, Wodzicki and Jabłonowski palace. Its current appearance dates back to the Potocki family, who worked hard during the interwar period to renovate it and convert it into an important centre of Kraków’s social and cultural life. In recent decades it was home to the Goethe Institute; since the institution has moved out into a new venue, the owners of the building decided to use the Potocki Palace to continue its former cultural mission. The mantle was taken up by KBF (operator of the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature programme) and Bunkier Sztuki gallery; the municipal institutions work with independent organisations and activists to develop an extensive programme of events.

Since spring 2021, the Potocki Palace has hosted important festivals organised by KBF and non-governmental organisations, including the literary Miłosz and Conrad festivals, Megabit Bomb, the Non-Fiction. Reportage Festival, Krakow Film Festival and Patchlab. It is home to the exhibitons of the Bunkier Sztuki Gallery of Contemporary Art as its building is undergoing renovations, and MOCAK-bookstore-BUNKIER is accessible from the Main Market Square. All organisers of cultural events in Kraków are welcome to join in with devising the programme of events at Potocki Palace, and their collective monthly presentations are impressive with their diversity and sheer number.

The backbone of the programme features permanent streams, mainly held as part of the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature programme. Meeting rooms host cycles of the project’s premieres, patronages and awards, avantgarde poetry meetings under the banner All Words Starting With P, events held as part of Reading Classes and Writing Classes, and literary workshops for kids. There are also meetings and discussions exploring important social issues such as exclusion. Partners of the institution host film (Kinematograf prepared with Pod Baranami Cinema) and music cycles (Porta at the Palace with the Porta Musicae Artistic Association), while free events on Saturdays are all about slowing down and focusing on wellbeing. Individual events are hosted by authors such as Jakub Kornhauser, Aleksandra Lipczak, Mira Marcinów, Zośka Papużanka and Michał Rusinek. The Renaissance building also has month-long residence programmes for authors from all over the globe. All activities at Potocki Palace will continue and develop in 2022; there will also be a new exhibition dedicated to Wisława Szymborska prepared with the foundation of her name.

“Just as Stanisław Lem combined different elements of prose with futuristic visions, the Potocki Palace will serve as a bridge between great literary traditions and the latest trends from Poland, Europe and all over the globe. Even at major literary festivals the cosy interiors create an intimate atmosphere, and support close, authentic meetings between authors and readers,” says Szymon Kloska, curator of the Lem 2021 programme marking the centenary of the author’s birth.

Grzegorz Słącz, “Kraków Culture” magazine

Photo: Robert Słuszniak

A version of this article appears in Winter ’21 edition of “Kraków Culture” magazine.