What was the functioning of the cultural center like during the PiS government? What changed after the departure of Minister Piotr Gliński? The head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Hanna Wróblewska, talked about it in “#BezKitu”. She admitted that when she entered the institution “she found many valuable officials and complete chaos.” She said that she had carried out a “reform” and “from now on, who receives subsidies under the minister's program will be decided not by the political cabinet, but by experts.”
The Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Hanna Wróblewska, spoke in the “#BezKitu” program on TVN24 about the changes that took place during her six-month term in the ministry and in the institutions managed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
She mentioned that she had already joined the ministry in December when she was appointed head of the ministry Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz and became – as she recalled – “director of the Department of National Cultural Institutions, i.e. one of the most important departments that manages all artistic and non-artistic cultural institutions.”
“A lot of valuable officials and complete chaos”
She described what the situation was like there then. – I am introduced by a very young man who says that he has been the acting director here for a month. Unfortunately, the previous director went on retirement and is now taking leave, and the previous deputy director has moved to the institution under his supervision. So what did I find at the Ministry of Culture? I found many valuable officials and complete decision-making chaos, chaos and the general escape of those who were responsible for (…) a lot of decision-making processes – she said.
She was also asked whether during the minister's time Piotr Gliński from the government PIS decisions related to spending public money were made on the basis of objective assessments and criteria.
Wróblewska replied that it turned out that “you can pump a lot of money into the system without any rules, breaking procedures and allowing people who have no managerial or cultural competences to make decisions.”
– You can spoil the entire system by directing and using this money solely for political purposes. So big money is good, but equally good are procedures, rules and a clear, transparent way of distributing this money, she said.
The minister was asked whether these procedures were avoided during Gliński's times. – I will say this, one of my first decisions was to reform the minister's programs – she replied. – And I will say this, from now on, who receives subsidies under the minister's program will be decided not by the political cabinet, but by experts – she added.
She explained that “there was a so-called strategic assessment that went through the political cabinet.” – I am saying clearly, this time the money is not distributed by the political cabinet, Facebook or other social media, which are scrutinized to check the suitability of a given company or beneficiary. This time, money for culture will be distributed by experts, emphasized the head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
“At the first stage, experts decided. At the second stage, the system of political connections”
When asked what the process of granting support from the minister's programs looked like under the previous government, she pointed out that “carefully selected experts decided at the first stage.” – At the second stage, however, the system of political connections was decisive. At least in a very, very large part, said Wróblewska.
– Sometimes despite experts and their recommendations? – asked the host of the program Radomir Wit. – The strategic assessment was large enough and the minister's power was high enough that he could decide on everything – she said.
She admitted that “many of the decisions he made, culturally and substantively, are incomprehensible to me.” – More from the political side – added Wróblewska.
Main photo source: TVN24