NEWSLETTER No.1 - August, 1996


The Polish Studies and Culture Foundation was established in July 1996 by the Slavic Section in the Department of German and Slavic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Monash University. The Foundation came into existence after the revival of Polish Studies at Monash in 1995. The program of the course covers contemporary literature and culture featuring major historical, political and artistic trends in literature, theatre, film and fine arts. Part of the program deals with the theory and practice of translation with a special focus on dramatic literature.

The course has made a significant contribution to the Department’s profile. Monash University has accepted Polish Studies as an equivalent to other subjects offered by the Faculty. The course has also been enriched by offering Masters and Ph.D. degrees: at present there are two Masters and four Ph.D. students. Experience has confirmed that the course can be developed further and that demand will increase in the future.

The Department has also initiated the East Europe Forum which involves scholars and experts from Monash and other universities. The topics explored cover culture, economy and politics. The aim is to reach as large an audience as possible from both the university and the wider community. The “Polish Forum” is part of the above initiative; it began in 1995 in response to a demand for information about the current events in Poland.

The Foundation is based on the belief that Universities should extend beyond the traditional role of teaching and research to involve and inspire the wider community.

The transition from a communist to a market economy and the subsequent reevaluation of cultural phenomena in post-communist Poland has created a wealth of opportunities for cultural and commercial exchange between the two countries. The Foundation is intended to serve as a vehicle to achieve this goal.

Our Foundation would not have been possible without assistance and support from the Department of German and Slavic Studies and the International Centre for Engineering Education both at Monash University, the Polish Embassy in Canberra, Polish Consulate in Sydney, Polish Airlines LOT, Polish media in Australia and private sponsors. We have also received a warm welcome from the Polish community.

So far we have established contacts with cultural and academic institutions in Poland such as: Warsaw University, Polish Academy of Science, Polish Television, Warsaw Drama Institute and cultural and commercial publishers. Currently we are developing further contacts with Australian academic and cultural institutions.

We have contacts with the following organisations: Australian Institute of Polish Affairs, Polish Youth and Families Association in Victoria, Polish Technical and Professional Association.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Foundation’s aims and objectives encompass the areas of culture, business and academic research. The Foundation is not a Polish community organisation but a University body with a charter to inspire and promote co-operation between Australia and Poland . As stated in the Constitution the Foundation intends to achieve its aims:


FOUNDATION PROGRAMS - 1996/98

Business Polish

In 1997 the Department will introduce a course in Business Polish covering aspects of the Polish business environment, business opportunities and characteristics of the Polish consumer.

Bilingual Magazine FORUM

In 1996 we plan to publish a quarterly to provide a forum for a comprehensive debate about cultural life in Poland and Australia. The mission is to promote Polish contemporary culture and arts in the English speaking world. Each year one of the issues will be devoted to the promotion of Australian culture amongst readers in Poland.

Australian Business and Culture Exhibition in Poland

This will present Australian achievement in the areas of business, culture, technology and academic research, encouraging an interest in Australia among Polish business and cultural circles. The project is organized in co-operation with the International Centre for Engineering Education at Monash University.

Polish Film Retrospective in Australia

The project will focus on 50 years of Polish cinema. This will also give an opportunity for those involved in the Australian film industry to share experience with Polish colleagues.

Symposium BUSINESS - LANGUAGE - EDUCATION

In collaboration with the International Centre for Engineering Education the Foundation will organize a conference focusing on business, language and education development.

BODY OF MANAGEMENT

The Foundation operates with a Board of Directors, an Executive Committee and Volunteers.

The Board ex officio members include:

Prof. Peter Darvall - Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, Chairperson;
Prof. Marian Quartly - Dean of the Faculty of Art;
Prof. Philip Thomson - Head of the Department of German Studies and Slavic Studies;
Dr Marko Pavlyshyn - Head of the Slavic Section;
Dr. Lila Zarnowski - Co-ordinator of Polish Studies, Director of the Foundation.

Members of the Board are:

Two members of the academic staff of the department of German and Slavic Studies:

Dr. S. Milicent Vladiv-Glover, Slavic Studies;
Dr Kate Rigby, German Studies.

Two members who the Board considers will contribute significantly to the working of the Board:

Prof. Zenon Pudlowski, Assoc. Dean Engineering Education;
Dr. Jozef Krawczyszyn, Polish Language Section Co-ordinator.
Three members of the Foundation elected by members at the first General Meeting


The Foundation received warm support and encouragement from prominent Australian and Polish members of the community who were asked to become Honorary Members of the Foundation. So far the following have accepted Honorary membership:

Mr. Jerzy Domaradzki, President of Polish Filmakers Association, a well- known film director who has worked in his field both in Poland and Australia.

Mr. Wlodzimierz Kamirski, Principal conductor of Queensland Symphony Orchestra, guest conductor of Australian Opera.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Mignon,AM, Australian theatre and opera director. Founder and artistic director of Australian Nouveau Theatre. He was awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to Australian culture in 1981.

Dr. Agnieszka Morawinska, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, a distinguished figure in Polish scholastic circles for her work in Fine Art History.

Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Chief Executive of Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs, Founding member of the Australian Institute of Polish Affairs and Australian - Poland Business Council.

Prof. Ezbieta Sarnowska - Temeriusz, Director of the Literature Research Institute at the Polish Academy of Science, a distinguished scholar in Literary Theory and History.

Mr. Neil Smart, a widely recognized authority in business and accounting, partner at KPMG, Charted accountants. A long standing member of Rotary International.

Mr. David Stratton, a prominent figure and personality in Australian and International Film History and Criticism. Presenter and critic on SBS TV.

The Director of the Foundation and five members of the Executive Committee form the Executive Committee of the Foundation that shall have the power to act on all matters referred to it by the Board and shall report its decisions and recommendations to the Board. The Committee supervises the initiatives and projects of the Foundation, conducts day-to-day business and affairs of the Foundation.

The following are the members of the Committee:

Dr. Lila Zarnowski - a Director of the Foundation, lecturer in Russian and Polish Literature and Language, co-founder of the Foundation;

Dr. Pawel Dabrowski, Business consultant, guest lecturer at Monash University and Swinbourne University;

Mrs. Christine Kania-Grodzicki, a guest lecturer in Polish Studies at Monash University, a Master candidate in Slavic Studies and Drama and Theatre Studies at Monash, Interpreter/Translator, co-founder of the Foundation;

Ms. Joanna Milosz, Principal of Theatrical Agency, involved in touring of Australian performers in Poland;

Mr. Stefan Mrowinski, Broadcaster- Journalist of the SBS, guest lecturer of Polish Studies at Monash. co-founder of the Foundation;

Mr. Richard Reisner, Lecturer at RMiT for the Business Faculty. Member of Executive Committee ALiTRA (Australian Literary Translator’s Association).


Please note that all donations to our Foundation is tax deductable.

All enquires and correspondence should be addressed to:
Monash University Polish Studies and Culture Foundation Slavic Section, Department of German Studies and Slavic Studies, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia Tel: (613) 99052252, Fax: (613) 9905 5251

To contact foundation, please email: Lila.Zarnowsky@arts.monash.edu.au