Bogusław Nowak’s (68) ideas connected with the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival are consuming increasingly more money. In 2024, approximately 100,000 zlotys was allocated to events organized by him. In 2025, the total exceeded 140,000 zlotys. This year, the costs of Nowak’s projects, presented as performances by Teatr Glina (spacja) Da, may—as unofficial information obtained by us suggests—reach as much as a quarter of a million zlotys.

That would mean approximately 250,000 zlotys for an event organized by the restaurateur and his associates. We emphasize, however, that this is currently unofficial information. Bolesławiec Cultural Centre – International Ceramics Centre does not want to disclose before the event how much money it intends to allocate to Bogusław Nowak’s events.

Residents will learn the price only after the event

We asked BOK-MCC about the planned cost of the performances and events organized by Teatr Glina (spacja) Da.

“We inform you that the cost of the Teatr Glina performance will be provided after the project has been fully settled,” the BOK-MCC secretariat replied. The centre therefore did not provide either the planned amount or the maximum value of the liability to be covered with public money.

“Negotiations involve the parties establishing the financial and organizational terms,” it added in its response of 20 July.

In practice, this means that Bolesławiec residents may find out how much the event cost only once the money has already been spent.

It is difficult to understand why a public institution does not want to present even an estimated budget for the event, particularly when unofficial information indicates that such a large amount is involved.

15,000 zlotys for descending from the town hall

In 2025, Bogusław Nowak received 15,000 zlotys for participating in the opening of the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival. One of the main elements of the performance was his descent on a rope from the town hall tower. The show itself prompted mixed reactions. Some viewers and internet users considered it awkward and unsuitable for the stature of a city festival.

Regardless of the artistic assessment of the event, the question remains whether such a performance was worth 15,000 zlotys from funds connected with organizing a city event. In 2025, Nowak was also entrusted with organizing the parade and its accompanying events. The total expenditure connected with his projects then exceeded 140,000 zlotys.

Costs are rising year by year

If this year’s amount really reaches 250,000 zlotys, it will mean a very large increase in expenditure:

  • approximately 100,000 zlotys in 2024,
  • more than 140,000 zlotys in 2025,
  • up to 250,000 zlotys in 2026.

Over two years, the cost of events organized by Bogusław Nowak would therefore increase approximately two and a half times. It is currently unknown what specific attractions are meant to justify such an amount, how many people will be employed, what remuneration the performers will receive, and which companies or individuals will be the actual recipients of the money.

Journalists ask questions, director attacks

Kornel Filipowicz, director of BOK-MCC and the main organizer of the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival, responds evasively to questions about the financing of Teatr Glina (spacja) Da events or attacks the istotne.pl portal. During the May session of the City Council, the director made insinuations about the Stowarzyszenie boleslawianie.eu and our editorial team.

It was the istotne.pl portal and people associated with the association that organized the parade, workshops, and events preserving the Bolesławiec tradition of painting participants with liquid clay during the Ceramics Festival for several years.

Questions about the cost of the current event do not therefore stem from opposition to organizing the parade. They concern the way public money is spent, the transparency of decisions, and the sharp increase in the costs of events entrusted to one person.

Public money requires transparency

BOK-MCC is a local-government cultural institution financed to a significant extent with residents’ money. Information about how much one of the events held during the city festival is supposed to cost should not be treated as a trade secret between private businesses.

Residents should be able to find out before the event whether the city plans to spend 50,000, 100,000, or a quarter of a million zlotys.

Update: 2026-08-07 19:00

The cultural centre made its contract with Bogusław Nowak available. It shows that Nowak will receive 50,000 zlotys directly, while another 50,000 zlotys will go to other people who will organize the parade with him. So far, BOK-MCC has not said whether these are all the costs connected with the parade or whether, as last year, Nowak will receive additional money from private sponsors.

https://istotne.pl/data/upload/pdf/2026-07-21-umowa-o-dzielo-bok-mcc-boguslaw-nowak.pdf