Last year, the Polish government unveiled what it described as a major programme to restore historic monuments across the country to their former glory.
Announcing the new programme, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the effort was designed to "bring back valuable historic objects" scattered around the country, in both big cities and rural areas.
"This is a project which not only cements the present with the past, but is the essence of what we believe in and what we do—connecting and respecting tradition, culture, and history,” Morawiecki said at the time.
He added that "these monuments are often the pride of local communities, and can be a tourist attraction, but at present a significant number of them are falling into disrepair."
Under the government's Monument Restoration Programme, local governments may apply for funding for the protection and care of monuments.
Co-financing is granted up to 98 percent of a project's value, while local governments have to contribute at least 2 percent of the total.
Over 5,000 projects have already received funds under the programme, Piotr Gliński, Poland's minister of culture and national heritage, said on Friday.
He added that soon a second phase of the programme would be announced.
During the last several years, spending on the protection of historic monuments has risen threefold in Poland, according to Gliński.
The Monument Restoration Programme is not the only government initiative to support the protection of cultural heritage in the country.
Since 2016, the government has granted funding to more than 4,000 projects under its Protection of Monuments initiative. Thanks to this programme, each year it is possible to save valuable monuments in both urban and rural areas, "many of them in a disastrous condition," according to officials.
Another project launched by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage is called “It’s worth investing in monuments.” It aims to increase awareness about the preservation of heritage and monument protection among young people.
The government says it is sparing no expense allocating extra funds, setting up a special conservation body, a new heritage institute, and even a special audiobook.
The campaign slogan “Don’t cut yourself off from the past, take care of monuments” shows a clear message, one that resonates with Polish citizens, according to officials.
(ab/gs)
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.
