Protecting history

Next year the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) plans to more than double its spending on the protection of historical buildings. In the 2007 budget, the Ministry wants to spend zł.107 million.

"This is one of the most important tasks for the patronage of state. Historical buildings cannot be regarded as a fifth wheel in a vehicle of the Ministry's policy, but a pearl in the crown. This year we have spent zł.40 million and it was still a drop in the ocean," says Kazimierz Ujazdowski, Minister of MKiDN.

Dolnoœlšskie and Wielkopolskie voivodships have the most historical buildings. With over 2,000 monuments to be renovated immediately out of all 7,675 on the record, Dolnoœlšskie has a chance to receive 20 percent of the funds. Wielkopolskie is second on the list in terms of registered historical buildings but the situation is better since only an eighth of all buildings there need renovating.

Most of the Ministry's funds are distributed through competitions, so it all depends on receiving funding the monuments' owners. But there are other programs, such as the Cultural Infrastructure program, by which organizations that carry out cultural and social activities can apply for the funds. The money can also go to renovating old industrial complexes and transforming them into cultural facilities.

Recently, The Ministry was granted a additional zł.8 million from this year's budget reserves. The funds will be spent on refurbishing of valuable historical buildings such as the Basilica of the Assumption of Holy Mary in Gdańsk or the Cistercian Abbey in Lubišż. The funds must be used by the end of the year.