The National Forum of Music in Wrocław is organising the Business in Culture – Culture in Business debate for the third time. The event will take place on November 21, 2024.

The first two iterations of the debate brought inspiring discussions, expanded our understanding of the functioning of the worlds of business and the arts, incentivising cooperation between the private sector and arts organisations, benefitting business, artists and the wider society willing to participate in high-brow cultural life. The panelists discussed issues related to corporate social responsibility and the participation of private enterprises in cultural life.

Building a modern and open society, conducive to innovations in business, cannot be achieved without creating an understanding between entrepreneurs and cultural institutions based on the best cooperation practices. That is why we are creating space for discussion again. We are enthusiastically committed to shaping a community that places common good and the benefits of participation in culture at the centre its endeavours.

This year, we would like to focus on examples of good practices of cooperation between culture and business on a local and national scale, current models of patronage, benefits for business resulting from investing in culture and issues related to the administrative aspects of cooperation between the private and public sectors. We will consider together the factors that motivate investment in the arts and the importance of business patronage for local communities. We will also try to answer questions about what stands in the way of establishing cooperation between the cultural sector and private business, and which administrative practices can encourage investors to support culture.

“There are many studies showing participation in culture and access to the arts as significantly improving people’s well-being, including mental health, and their satisfaction with life. And this, in turn, makes them more conscious consumers of various business products. That is why it is so important to build lasting relationships between business and cultural institutions and jointly develop long-term programmes supporting the arts and artists” – said Andrzej Kosendiak, NFM Director from 2014 to 2024, in an interview with the Nowy Marketing portal.

We invite representatives of the arts, business and administration. The panelists are: 

• Ewa Folta – art collector,
• Krzysztof Folta – chairman of the supervisory board, TIM SA,
• Andrzej Kosendiak – NFM Director from 2014 to 2024, Artistic Adviser, Artistic Director of Wrocław Baroque Ensemble,
• Maciej Tomaszewski – Spokesperson, STRABAG Sp. z o. o.,
  

The panel will be moderated by Jarosław Sroka, Member of the Board, KI INVEST, host of the “Firmament” programe on Radio 357.

After the debate, we invite you to the Beczała & Radvanovsky Opera Gala, during which Piotr Beczała and Sondra Radvanovsky will perform with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic under the baton of Gianluca Marciano. After the concert, we invite you to a banquet.