Waldemar Dabrowski
- Producer
- Additional Crew
A graduate of the Electronics Faculty of Warsaw Polytechnic, he held
scholarships from the British Council, the Goethe Institute and the US
Department of State. He also completed Harvard University's Executive
Programme for Leaders in Development. He was the founder and director
of the student club Riwiera-Remont (1973-1978), which became well known
for its highly original cultural initiatives. It played host at that
time to Michelangelo Antonioni, Julio Cortazar, Nikita Mikhalkov,
Andrzej Wajda and other outstanding cultural personalities. His student
involvement led to the proposal to become deputy director of the
Cultural Department of the City of Warsaw, a function he held from 1979
to 1981.
In 1982, together with Jerzy Grzegorzewski, he assumed the management of Warsaw's Studio Art Centre. There he set up an independent impresario unit promoting leading artists of Poland's theatre, music and fine-arts scene. In co-operation with Jerzy Maksymiuk and Yehudi Menuhin, he was instrumental in the creation of the Sinfonia Varsovia. He also promoted the Studio's exhibition activities. He produced more than 70 plays at the Studio Theatre, including the widely acclaimed production, Tamara, the first play in Warsaw to be financed with non-budgetary resources. During that period, the Studio Theatre went on numerous tours and took part in some of the world's most important theatre festivals. In 1990 he became deputy minister of Culture and Art and head of the Committee of Cinematography. He performed that function for four years and thoroughly reformed Polish cinematography. The summer-holiday Festival of Stars in Miedzyzdroje came into being thanks to his initiative.
From 1994 to 1998, he served as President of the State Foreign Investment Agency, which was recognised as Europe's best organisation of its kind at a 1997 trade conference in Chicago. In September 1998, he became General Director of the Great Theatre-National Opera, working with Jacek Kaspszyk - its artistic and musical director.
He has served as President of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, honorary President of the Polish Golfing Association, Vice-President of the American-Polish-Israeli Foundation 'Shalom'. A Cavalier of the Officer's Order of Art and Literature of the French Republic. In April 2001, he was awarded the 'Merited for Warsaw' distinction by the Warsaw City Council. Minister of Culture since 2002.
In 1982, together with Jerzy Grzegorzewski, he assumed the management of Warsaw's Studio Art Centre. There he set up an independent impresario unit promoting leading artists of Poland's theatre, music and fine-arts scene. In co-operation with Jerzy Maksymiuk and Yehudi Menuhin, he was instrumental in the creation of the Sinfonia Varsovia. He also promoted the Studio's exhibition activities. He produced more than 70 plays at the Studio Theatre, including the widely acclaimed production, Tamara, the first play in Warsaw to be financed with non-budgetary resources. During that period, the Studio Theatre went on numerous tours and took part in some of the world's most important theatre festivals. In 1990 he became deputy minister of Culture and Art and head of the Committee of Cinematography. He performed that function for four years and thoroughly reformed Polish cinematography. The summer-holiday Festival of Stars in Miedzyzdroje came into being thanks to his initiative.
From 1994 to 1998, he served as President of the State Foreign Investment Agency, which was recognised as Europe's best organisation of its kind at a 1997 trade conference in Chicago. In September 1998, he became General Director of the Great Theatre-National Opera, working with Jacek Kaspszyk - its artistic and musical director.
He has served as President of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, honorary President of the Polish Golfing Association, Vice-President of the American-Polish-Israeli Foundation 'Shalom'. A Cavalier of the Officer's Order of Art and Literature of the French Republic. In April 2001, he was awarded the 'Merited for Warsaw' distinction by the Warsaw City Council. Minister of Culture since 2002.