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Professor Jacek Purchla honoured with the “Legatus Cracoviensis” award

On 22 October, to mark International Diplomats’ Day, Professor Jacek Purchla was formally honoured with the “Legatus Cracoviensis” statuette during the Kraków Consular Gala. He was recognised for his outstanding achievements in the field of diplomacy and international relations, as well as his efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation between nations.

The “Legatus Cracoviensis” statuette, awarded by the Kraków Consular Club, is an expression of recognition for individuals and institutions whose work contributes to the development of international relations, dialogue between nations, cooperation and the fostering of mutual respect and friendship. This honorary award also promotes best practice in consular and diplomatic work, as well as the forging of lasting ties between the diplomatic community and representatives of culture, academia and civil society. The decision to award the statuettes is taken by the Legatus Cracoviensis Council, which honours individuals, organisations and institutions once a year. This year, in addition to Prof. Purchla, the statuette was awarded to Prof. Jerzy Lis, Rector of AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, whilst the Villa Decius Association in Kraków was honoured in the institutional category.

Professor Jacek Purchla is an art historian and economist, a recognised expert in the fields of cultural heritage and the history and development of cities, as well as the author of over 600 academic publications, which have been translated into many languages. He is an active member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as Chair of the Polish National Commission for UNESCO (2015–2020) and of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2016–2017). In 1991, he founded the International Cultural Centre in Kraków and served as its director for over a quarter of a century; he currently holds the position of the Director’s Representative for Academic Affairs. He holds an honorary doctorate from the  Lviv Polytechnic National University and the title of Honorary Professor at the Krakow University of Economics.

Professor Purchla is also a member of numerous organisations and associations, including the Comité international d’histoire de l’art (titular member) and the Team for Poland’s Membership of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage for the 2025–2029 term. Between 2000 and 2016, he chaired the Council for the Protection of Monuments under the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. He also served as President of the Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage and as editor-in-chief of the “Rocznik Krakowski”. In 2018, he was elected Vice-President of Europa Nostra and chairs the Jury of the Cultural Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards.

We warmly congratulate Professor Purchla and the other honourees!

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