PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA has been involved in undertakings providing support for cultural and social projects for many years.
For the PGE Capital Group, the social accountability of business is not a motto and prestige only; it is a responsibility, a real chance to influence the development of local communities by offering support for cultural and artistic events. It is an opportunity to promote interesting personalities, offer creative inspiration, positive impressions and emotions, as well as broaden knowledge and develop valuable attitudes. That is why we support both projects which have already gained recognition in Poland and abroad, and new but equally interesting and innovative initiatives, full of passion and positive energy, which may become successful due to our sponsoring. In the year of Poland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union we were particularly involved in undertakings providing the support for the achievements of Polish artists and creators, and their contribution to the development of European culture.
In 2011 PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the sponsor of such cultural events as the following:
- The Music Gardens Festival
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the sponsor of one of the most important artistic events of 2011. A part of the National Cultural Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the festival was dedicated to European culture and its greatest creators, with special emphasis on Polish artists. That was one of the major reasons for our decision to support the Music Gardens Festival. We perceived its huge potential and an opportunity for the promotion of the Polish national art in Europe. Due to our involvement, the audience had an opportunity to become familiar with the most outstanding opera, ballet and TV productions concerning art and culture. The festival comprised 9 concerts and more than 20 audio-visual presentations, including 5 opera performances, 5 ballet performances, and 13 films dedicated to art and the people of culture. Exceptional foreign guests participated in the festival, for instance Silvana Deluigi, Isabel Karajan, Karuzela Group, The Swingle Singers. The Music Gardens Festival has been organized since 2001. Almost 400 000 people have participated in it so far.
- The Different Sounds Art’n’Music Festival
Held regularly in Lublin, the Different Sounds international meetings with art and culture is a unique artistic event addressed to the lovers of music and related arts. The project involves artists of many nationalities representing various types of music, thus offering the audience a new quality of art. The event is also a unique project for PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA - we have been involved in its organization for several years. In this year's edition of the festival, concerts were held, among others, in the Old Town Market in Lublin, in the Basilica of Fathers Dominicans, and in the Andersen Theatre. All of these places are situated in the very centre of Lublin - the Old Town. An integral part of the event was the Festival Club, or an art gallery and a place of artistic workshops, film presentations, concerts and meetings of artists and the audience. Apart from the artistic events, there was a series of debates entitled "The Borders of Europe" dealing with the current problem of European identity. The main star of the festival was the Watcha Clan group. There were also concerts of groups from Russia, Austria, Mexico and Macedonia, and such artists as Kiril, Los de Abajo, Russkaja, Jan Trebunia-Tutka, Sedativa feat, Dawid Portasz, John Porter, and Voo Voo.
- 50. The Music Festival in Łańcut
The Music Festival in Łańcut, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is a great artistic event and a wonderful showpiece of the Podkarpacie Region in Europe and the world. It always attracts music lovers with the names of outstanding world-class artists and the charming place in which the festival is held – the Castle Museum in Łańcut. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA sponsored the event again. Due to our involvement, the diversified programme offer of the 50th anniversary edition of the festival comprising music pieces from Bach to Penderecki was enriched with even more attractions provided by great world performers and other artists. The participation of two outstanding Polish artists, Rafał Olbiński – a painter, printmaker, poster artist residing in New York, and Franciszek Maśluszczak – a painter, was a great surprise. During the concert, both artists painted pictures inspired by the played music. Their works will be sold by auction and profits will be donated to the charges of St. Brother Albert's Aid Society. Along with the concerts, a conference with the participation of outstanding Polish musicologists was also organized; it was dedicated to the place and role of music festivals in European culture.
- The Film and Art Festival Two Riversides
It was the fifth edition of the Film and Art Festival Two Riversides in Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec on the Vistula River. This edition's motto was: "Viaggio In Italia", i.e. "A Journey to Italy". The title is borrowed from a film by Roberto Rossellini, one of the most important Italian directors. His films have become an inspiration for many generations of European artists. The festival was an opportunity to watch a Rossellini retrospective. Almost 100 000 people participated in the Film and Art Festival Two Riversides, which offered more than 300 special events such as concerts, feature films and documentaries, as well as premieres, theatrical meetings, and discussion panels with international filmmakers. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA once again became the general sponsor of the festival. PGE's involvement in the event comprised, among other things, the organization of the PGE Cinema, which after the inauguration of the festival became the venue of film presentations and meetings with film makers. In this year's edition of the festival, in cooperation with PGE Obrót S.A., we also prepared special attractions for our outstanding guests - a group of our key clients. They had an opportunity to participate in special film presentations and personally get to know famous Polish and foreign artists.
In 2010 PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the sponsor of such cultural events as the following:
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the official sponsor of the Chopin Year 2010, and in particular the "Chopin and His Europe" Festival, and the sponsor of the 16th International Chopin Piano Competition.
The Chopin Year was a unique time for all classical music lovers. From January 2010 Poland and selected other countries organized celebrations commemorating Frederic Chopin. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the official sponsor of the Chopin Year. The main objective of the celebrations was the presentation of Chopin's works in a broad cultural context, with emphasis on the diversified sources for the outstanding composer's style, and his relations with other 19th century composers as well as artists of the next generations. Symphonic concerts, chamber music concerts, recitals, happenings, jazz and open air concerts were organized. The lovers of classical music had an opportunity to listen to concerts played on historical grand pianos. The invited groups and artists included such celebrities as Marc Minkowski with Les Musiciens du Louvre--Grenoble, Misha Maisky, Nelson Freire, Maria Joao Pires, Maurizio Pollini, Nelson Goerner, Philippe Herreweghe, Orchestre des Champs-Elysees, Il Giardino Armonico, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Joshua Bell and Bobby McFerrin. It was an honour for PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna to participate in the "Chopin and His Europe" Festival and in the other events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the pianist's birth, including the world-premiere of "Let's Dance Chopin" held on 22 May during Expo 2010 in Shanghai. We hope that due to the joint efforts of PGE and the National Frederic Chopin Institute, we managed to make large audiences interested in classical music. We would like the works of one of the most outstanding Poles to arouse energy in subsequent generations.
The 16th International Chopin Piano Competition was a real feast for all admirers of classical music and Frederic Chopin's works. Held every five years, the event never fails to arouse emotions and for many young pianists it constitutes the beginning of a great international career. More than 80 most talented pianists from all over the world participated in the last edition of the Competition. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the sponsor of the event.
From 31 July to 8 August 2010 the fourth edition of the Film and Art Festival Two Riversides in Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec on the Vistula River was held. The central theme of the event was the motto: "Another World". Almost 100 000 people participated in the festival, which offered more than 300 special events such as concerts, feature films and documentaries, as well as premieres, theatrical meetings, and discussion panels with international film makers. PGE's involvement in the event comprised, among other things, the organization of the PGE Cinema, which after the inauguration of the festival became the venue of film presentations and meetings with film makers. Altogether, 24 000 people watched more than 50 films during the festival. In 2010 PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA was the general sponsor of this event for the second time. The enormous success of the festival, its international character and energy which accompanies it, as well as the numerous events and the huge audiences participating in it - these were the main reasons behind our involvement in this project.