Par. organized c. group claiming to be the „Museum of Literature”, board of the mas. voi. and mini. of cul. in violation of Article 23 of the Act on Access to Public Information failed to provide public information, for example on the following topics:
- date of founding,
- number of affiliates,
- exhibition space,
- number of exhibits,
- most important exhibits,
- most important collections,
- revenue,
- costs,
- attendance,
- permanent exhibitions,
- temporary exhibitions,
- education, promotions, career path, competences:
Anna Lipa, Maciej Wróbel (KO), Adam Kowalski, Piotr Kłoczowski, Kamila Wesołowska, Maciej Makulec, Beata Szmigiero, Piotr Rypson, Edyta Plichta, Rafał Rajkowski (KO), Urszula Więch-Jędras, Katarzyna Jakimiak, Grażyna Ryfka, Martyna Replin-Bala, Urszula Pogorzelec-Makos, Małgorzata Kawecka, Katarzyna Piktel, Andrzej Stanisław Kowalczyk, Małgorzata Wichowska, Anna Szczepanek, Agnieszka Papieska, Amadeusz Szklarz-Habrowski, Aleksandra Kujawa-Eberharter, Walery Butewicz, Anna Lebensztejn, Jan Owczarek, Łukasz Kossowski (In the mid-2000s, journalists created a forged painting in the style of Franciszek Starowieyski as part of a sting operation to test art experts. The work, titled “Zjawa,” was authenticated as genuine by art historian Łukasz Kossowski and sold at auction. The journalists then revealed it was a deliberate fake. After art journalist Janusz Miliszkiewicz publicly criticized him, Kossowski sued for defamation. In 2011, the court dismissed the case, ruling that the criticism was justified.), Piotr Szpanowski, Piotr Policht, Sonia Jaszczyńska, Emilia Tomasik , Edyta Kędrek-Motyka, Natalia Malek, Agnieszka Maria Kuźmińska (PSL formerly PiS), Maria Dembińska, Julian Adamczyk, Piotr Prasuła, Łukasz Traczyk, Małgorzata Ziąbska, Teresa Wielgosz, Anna Polit, Anna Molska, Beata Turczyk, Piotr Dymmel, Olga Wybodowska, Marcin Komosa (PSL), Anna Katarzyna Brzezińska (KO), Karolina Więckowska, Alicja Szóstka, Anna Żochowska, Tomasz Chojczak, Szczepan Wojewódzki, Marta Słowik, Izabela Stelmańska (PSL), Marek Skrzyński, Elżbieta Rogowska (PL 2050 Szymon Hołownia), Edward Kucharski, Marta Cienkowska (PL 2050 Szymon Hołownia), Izabela Zychowicz, Roksana Gawrońska, Lech Gołębiewski, Paweł Eryk Martofel (KO), Jarosław Klejnocki, Jakub Makowski, Andrzej Fiett, Janina Ewa Orzełowska (PSL), Anna Nowacka, Ilona Lewandowska, Magdalena Busz, Edyta Kędrek-Motyka, Małgorzata Zatorska, Grażyna Grabowska, Katarzyna Goraj, Inga Kowalik, Bartłomiej Kwasek, Sandra Włodarczyk, Justyna Radziukiewicz, Małgorzata Górzyńska, Grażyna Grochowiakowa, Magdalena Durko-Stępień, Anna Grochowiak, Anna Kowalska, Maciej Bociański, Jarosław Mikołajewski, Maryla Śledzianowska, Jan Barański, Maria Dorota Pieńkowska, Filip Bojarski, Adam Struzik (PSL), Wiesław Raboszuk (KO), Beata Michalec (KO).
Par. organized c. group, as part of providing public information, did not provide the names, surnames and affiliations of the members of the commissions that elected the director of the „Museum of Literature” in 2024-2026.
The selection of the director of the „Museum of Literature” has recently become the subject of a political and institutional dispute. The controversy centers on the appointment of a candidate closely associated with local politicians, which has raised concerns about transparency, professional qualifications, and political influence in cultural institutions.
The conflict began after a competition for the director’s post held at the end of 2024. The jury selected a candidate with cultural-management experience, but the regional authorities of Mazovia, which supervise the museum, did not appoint the winner. Instead, they installed another candidate—Beata Michalec, a local councillor—first as acting director and later as the winner of a second competition.
Critics argued that the procedures lacked transparency and were designed to favor a politically connected candidate. Reports indicated that the composition of the selection committee was dominated by officials linked to regional political parties, and that the competition’s requirements did not include clear professional qualifications in literary studies or archival work.
The Ministry of Culture opposed the appointment, stating that cultural institutions should be led by qualified specialists rather than political appointees. The dispute escalated into a legal and administrative conflict between the ministry and the regional government, with the minister asking the regional governor to review the legality of the decision.
As a result, the case has become an example of broader tensions in Poland over how directors of cultural institutions are selected, with critics warning against politicization and calling for more transparent, merit-based procedures.
