There is a time of democracy such as we have never known before. This longed-for political system has brought us unexpected (surprising?) socio-economic solutions: after all, everything is supposed to be “self-sufficient” and self-financing.What do these words mean? For everyone, they have the meaning dictated by their mood and emotions. And since poor social moods give rise to aggressive emotions, our democracy has become a kind of “free-for-all.”When a young man is reprimanded for inappropriate behavior, one can hear, alongside many insults, a philosophical statement about “democracy and self-sufficiency.”As a country, we are at a crossroads. The lack of stability and guarantees of economic peace gives rise to concern about one’s own existence and private survival. It is difficult to resent anyone for proverbially “looking after number one.” Nevertheless, it should be remembered that even in the jungle, not only the stronger individuals survive, but also the more intelligent ones. It should also be recalled that Poland, despite being erased from the map of Europe, survived and exists thanks to culture. Culture is, after all, the defining mark of every nation’s existence.Of course, I would not dare include cultural institutions in this general definition, but… In the civilized world, everything is “institutionalized,” including something as elusive as art. Theatres, galleries, publishing houses, and so on are institutions where art and culture are created and disseminated.One may ask whether, when there is nothing to put in the pot, people think about culture. Well, that is not quite how it is. For one thing, genuine poverty is not so widespread that we can speak of the entire society. Secondly, it is not always a matter of individual citizens’ serious spending on culture. And furthermore: the flood of foreign pseudo-culture threatens to destroy our “cultural roots,” our identity. We were so indignant about socialist festivals, yet now we voluntarily organize a video tape library for ourselves with films like “Rambo.” We allow ourselves to be drowned out by the monotonous musical noise of MTV. And the possibility of owning a gun, as in America, is a visible sign of democracy.Let us return, however, to culture, its institutions, and the proverbial pot. The institutions that disseminate culture are not to blame for the fact that the pot is not completely full. Surely no one needs convincing of that. Yet I would like to convince you that after their liquidation, the pot will not become full. Eliminating, for example, BOK or the Museum would not improve the city’s financial condition. After all, benefits would have to be paid to the people made redundant, and the maintenance of the buildings, among other things, would still have to be covered. Nor can these institutions become self-financing, because that would entail raising service prices so significantly that no one could afford even to cross the thresholds of cultural institutions. Reducing the subsidy as much as possible (BOK also generates part of its revenue) is tantamount to eliminating the purpose of such an institution.In a city of 50,000, one cinema and the only institution offering the possibility of direct contact with all forms of art—often free of charge—are hardly too much. BOK, as an institution, will probably survive these difficult times for the country for the reasons stated above. One should, however, consider the question of “how.” If its purpose is to disseminate culture widely, it cannot limit itself to events that generate revenue.Transferring part of the cultural fund to schools would also burden them with responsibilities for which they were neither established nor prepared. This could amount only to breaking up already very limited resources into smaller parts. And the objective would also be lost, since the scope of influence would be limited to students.Our social wisdom dictates the optimal solution: it is better to support what is declining than to struggle to build from scratch. All the more so because, without megalomania, Bolesławiec’s culture cannot be considered to be in decline. As years ago, it lives, endures, assimilates changes and new developments. I believe it would be a pity to squander this sign, visible on the country’s cultural map, through a lack of goodwill and excessively narrow-minded thinking. I also believe that agreement builds…, and that “music (read: culture) soothes manners” will allow us all to find the right path. This is what I wish for myself and for you.P.S. The nearest important opportunity to meet together with culture, apart from smaller events, will be “Wiosna Bolesławiecka”—on the last two days of May. This year we are planning a different format than before: with street theatres, a procession of masks, kites—unknown in Poland—and other events representing art for everyone. So, I hope, we will all meet: young and old, poor and rich, at a celebration of joy and collective communion with art.See you there!