35 years of the International Cultural Centre

For 35 years, the International Cultural Centre in Kraków has been building bridges where history and politics have often erected barriers. It is here that the art, heritage and ideas of Central Europe—a region full of differences and tensions, but also of shared experiences—come together. The ICC’s anniversary is not only an opportunity to take stock, but also a story of an institution that has believed from the outset that culture can be a language of understanding, a tool for dialogue and a key to understanding the modern world.

The mission of the International Cultural Centre is to foster dialogue and to co-create narratives about the culture and identity of Central Europe beyond borders. As an institution, we maintain an extensive network of international cultural and intellectual partnerships, putting into practice the principles of public diplomacy capable of forging bonds that endure beyond shifting political and economic circumstances. Over the years, we have welcomed to our headquarters leading figures from the worlds of art, scholarship, politics and civil society. Our guests have included heads of state as well as Nobel Prize laureates, among them Shimon Peres, whose essay *From a World of Borders to a World of Horizons* has, in many ways, become a metaphor for all that we do.

 Shimon Peres, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Prof. Jacek Purchla (1994)


The International Cultural Centre was inaugurated on 29 May 1991 during the landmark CSCE Conference on Cultural Heritage. It was the first gathering of its kind to bring together East and West after the fall of the Iron Curtain—a result of unprecedented cooperation between the national government and local authorities. The Centre became Poland’s first national cultural institution of a new generation: an experiment in opening the country to the world through culture. By combining an interdisciplinary approach to heritage with a commitment to dialogue across borders, the ICC remains an innovative and forward-looking undertaking to this day.

Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, Director of the International Cultural Centre (MCK), during the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 in Nicosia.

“The ICC is envisioned as an open institution—one that inspires curiosity about the world, especially the world closest to us: Central Europe. The challenge is to recognise that, despite our differences, we are capable of creating shared narratives about this region, its art and its culture,” says Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, Director of the International Cultural Centre, reflecting not only on the institution’s legacy but also on its future.

From its earliest days, the International Cultural Centre has served as Poland’s voice in discussions on heritage—both in relations with neighbouring countries and on the international stage. The Centre’s mission has been to disseminate research on the phenomenon of heritage and on Central Europe within Poland, while strengthening the country’s position as an active participant in global debates on culture and heritage. This dialogue with our neighbours is reflected in the many projects undertaken over the past 35 years. Among the most significant has been cooperation within the Visegrad Group, symbolically inaugurated by the visit of the four V4 prime ministers to the ICC in 2001.

Premier Ministers of the Visegrad Group countries inaugurate the premises designated for the Heritage Academy.

We are actively engaged in promoting Polish culture internationally and in fostering scholarly and cultural cooperation. We carry out projects with leading organisations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe, as well as with cultural networks and associations including Europa Nostra, Culture Action Europe, ENCATC (the European Network on Cultural Management and Policy), CULTURELINK and the International Association of Research Institutes in the History of Art (RIHA). Our commitment to openness, objectivity and rigorous analysis, combined with a mission of education and interpretation of issues crucial to Central European culture, makes the ICC an institution of enduring relevance and necessity for both Poland and Europe, particularly in the face of contemporary challenges.

The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum, held alongside the 41st Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Kraków (2017).

Central Europe serves as the point of departure—and often the frame of reference—for all our activities. This perspective is present in our exhibitions and, perhaps above all, in our publishing programme. It would not be an exaggeration to describe the ICC as Poland’s window onto the region and an observatory of the cultural transformations taking place within it. These diverse activities are united by a common objective: fostering interdisciplinary reflection on cultural heritage, whose significance continues to grow in times of rapid change. We strive to build narratives free from stereotypes and simplistic answers, both in our interpretation of the past and in our examination of the present. We see Central Europe as culturally diverse, historically complex, and endlessly fascinating from both scholarly and artistic perspectives.

Our innovative approach to heritage as a driver of development, together with the projects we have undertaken, has demonstrated that the past has a profound and multidimensional relevance for the future. We have shown that cultural heritage is not merely a collection of historic monuments and museum objects, but also—and perhaps above all—a component of identity, a foundation of social capital and an important sector of the economy. In promoting this understanding, the ICC has been running the Heritage Academy since 2001—the only postgraduate programme in Poland dedicated to contemporary approaches to heritage management.

Prof. Jacek Purchla delivering a speech on 29 May 1991 in the Senators’ Hall of the Wawel Royal Castle.

When we celebrated our 30th anniversary, we were facing the challenges of the pandemic and the restrictions that deeply affected the cultural sector. Today, in equally uncertain times, we are once again redefining our role and emphasising culture as a factor that strengthens social resilience. The International Cultural Centre stands as an example of how much can be built on what we share, while also recognising and valuing our differences.

“The ICC was established as an institution with an entirely new mission—a mission to use cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, together with our memory and identity, as a means of dialogue with our neighbours in a new political landscape,” recalled Professor Jacek Purchla, the Centre’s founder and long-serving director, reflecting on its beginnings. Today, we remain committed to that mission, telling the story of heritage through culture, art, tradition and creativity. We believe that learning about history and the experiences of others enables us to better understand the present and to build meaningful relationships, particularly in times of crisis.

For us, the 35th anniversary is also a time of transformation and renewal. The ICC’s historic headquarters, The Ravens House at 25 Main Market Square in Kraków, is currently undergoing a major modernisation funded through the FEnIKS programme. As a result, we are creating a space that is even more open and better adapted to the needs of our audiences. A new education zone, bookshop and café will become places for encounter, exchange and lively discussion.

The heart of the International Cultural Centre has always belonged to Kraków. We hope you will continue this remarkable journey with us for the next 35 years.