A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

CHAPTER
Chapter 3: European Union Member States
Poland
Polish – Russian cultural relations are founded on the solid basis of the intergovernmental
agreement on cooperation in the field of culture which was signed on 25th of August 1993.
The additional protocol, which is signed every two years between the respective Ministries
of Culture, helps to keep the legal base up to date and makes it more responsive to the
needs arising in day-to-day cooperation.
The last protocol agreed upon by both sides was signed for the period of 2006–2008. It
plans the organisation of ‘The Year of Russian Culture in Poland’ in 2007 and ‘The Year
of Polish Culture in Russia’ in 2008. Poland and Russia already have good experience of
organising such projects. A similar promotion in Poland and Russia in 2004 and 2005,
encompassing the whole spectrum of culture and arts, was a big success. These events
presented in a complex and interdisciplinary way the cultural achievements of both countries,
e.g. theatre, ballet, films and exhibitions.
Polish culture has been well known and enjoyed wide popularity in Russia since the period
of the USSR. Before 1989 Polish culture and science, being less subject to ideological
limitations, served as a small window to the outside world through which some new cultural
and scientific trends found their way into the USSR. Throughout recent years Polish
– Russian cultural cooperation has been a good example of how to shape the image of the
countries in a positive way and to bring the two societies even closer.
There are several institutions dealing with the promotion of Polish culture in Russia such
as Cultural Section of the Polish Embassy, Polish Cultural Institutes in Moscow and St.
Petersburg, General Consulates in Kaliningrad and Irkutsk. All together, annually they organise
about 250 cultural events.
WHAT LEGISLATION APPLIES TO THE IMPORT/EXPORT OF CULTURAL GOODS
BETWEEN POLAND AND RUSSIA?
NATIONAL
Act of 23 July 2003 on protection and caretaking of cultural goods ( Dz. U. 162, pos. 1568)
Ordinance of the Minister of Culture of 19 April 2004 on export abroad of cultural goods and
objects representing features of cultural goods (Dz.U. No. 84, pos. 789 of 2004)
INTERNATIONAL
European Community legislation is applicable as explained in Chapter 2
The Polish People’s Republic adopted and ratifi ed the UNESCO Convention of 1970 in
1974.
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