Polish Institute in Bucharest

The Polish Institutes are institutions subordinated to the Foreign Ministry, whose mission is to disseminate the Polish culture and information about the history and national heritage of Poland in the world, as well as to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and social life. Many of the Polish Institutes also act as departments for culture and science within the embassies of Poland.

The Polish Institutes have the function of competent centers that promote knowledge about Poland by conducting information and education activities and by assuring the presence of Poland in the cultural life of the countries of residence. Their main duties include introducing the Polish culture in the major centers of these countries, assuring a significant Polish presence in international actions, as well as establishing sustainable relations between Polish and international partners active in the field of international cultural exchanges.

The programs of activities of the Polish Institutes are developed by teams, including a director or a person assigned from Poland, two or three local experts with thorough knowledge of the language and conditions in the relevant country, and two other members with auxiliary functions. The team structure may be changed depending on local conditions.

Polish Institutes are currently active in most European countries (Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, UK, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, and Hungary), as well as outside Europe (Israel, USA). In 2004, the Polish Institute in Bucharest also extended its activities to the Republic of Moldova.