So what's the deal with Szczecin culture? KO presented its point of view.

There is no crisis in Szczecin culture, local government officials from the Civic Coalition assured during a Thursday press conference in the foyer of the Contemporary Theatre. They listed what they had achieved for local artists and what they planned to do next. However, journalists were primarily interested in difficult topics: the future of the Contemporary Theatre, the staffing situation at the City Hall's Department of Culture, and the resignation of two members of the Presidential Council for Culture.

"The date of the Contemporary Theatre's move will certainly not be quick"

In recent months, the atmosphere surrounding the Contemporary Theatre has been particularly tense. The city is building a new home for it in Łasztownia, but the theatre will have to move out of the National Museum building before the project is completed, as the museum is undergoing renovations. Theatre staff and supporters publicly expressed concerns that the move to a temporary location could be disastrous for the Szczecin theatre. However, tensions have recently subsided somewhat.

"Three days ago, together with Mayor Michał Przepiera, Mayor Anna Szotkowska, and the director of the Contemporary Theatre, Mirosław Gawęda, we held a working meeting during which we outlined potential solutions that would be safe for the theatre and its staff. We are in constant contact with the theatre, and the theatre is providing us with certain solutions and ideas that it believes are best for it," said Deputy Mayor Marcin Biskupski of the Civic Coalition. "The date of the move from the National Museum will certainly not be immediate."

The vice president declined to provide details at this time. He only noted that there is no timetable yet for the work at the National Museum that will require the theater to relocate. And since that's the case, a precise date for the move cannot be determined. He added that the 2026/2027 artistic season will definitely take place in the building on Wały Chrobrego. There's a chance that the next season will be held as well.

Personnel matters

Another controversial topic is the changes in the Department of Culture. A few weeks ago, President Piotr Krzystek dismissed its director, Cezary Cichy. Subsequently, deputy director Anna Tuderek resigned. The department is now operating without leadership.

"On Monday, we have interviews with nine candidates for the position of deputy director of the Department of Culture," announced Marcin Biskupski. "However, there is no process for the director of the Department of Culture, as that position is still vacant."

Within two weeks we will know the results of the second competition for the director of Villa Lentz.

When asked if Szczecin's culture is in crisis, Civic Coalition (KO) local government officials firmly replied that it isn't. For example, in the case of the Contemporary Theatre, the construction of a new venue is a great opportunity for the coming decades, not something to worry about. The question of where the stage would temporarily operate is, as the KO councilors put it, a "short-term problem."

"There's absolutely no question of a crisis," assured Councilor Łukasz Tyszler, head of the Civic Coalition (KO) club. "Since Marcin Biskupski took over the cultural sector, the machinery has been in motion. Most importantly, we've managed to establish good contacts with people in the cultural sector, the kind of contact that doesn't just happen in writing or on the sly."

The councilor added that if it were up to the Civic Coalition, Cezary Cichy "probably wouldn't have been dismissed." ©℗

Alan Sasinowski

More on this topic in Friday's "Kurier Szczeciński" and eKurier from September 26, 2025.