Another exceptional gathering of the Kultur-Lige network of Jewish artists is behind us.
This was already the fifth edition, co-created with the Zapomniane Foundation and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, once again proving that the diversity of contemporary Jewish life in Poland is a great strength rather than a challenge.
Throughout the gathering, we worked together to create a space in which every person — regardless of background, path to Jewishness, language, identity, or social status — could feel seen, heard, and taken seriously as part of a living community. During the artistic presentations, we welcomed new members of the network. Each person shared their practice, what moves them, and how their work intertwines with Jewish experience. This diversity of perspectives — including patrilineal identities, queer experiences, and stories of conversion, migration, and refuge — formed an exceptionally rich, polyphonic picture. This multiplicity is the very foundation of Kultur-Lige.
This was especially evident during the curatorial tour of the exhibition “The Power of Words: On Jewish Languages,” where the works of Monika Krajewska and Helena Czernek were accompanied by reflections on how language — in its many forms and traditions — is itself a testimony to Jewish diversity. Visiting the exhibition deepened our conversation about the many ways of belonging to Jewish culture and history.
The gathering concluded with a concert by Maria Ka, a songwriter working in Yiddish, whose latest project Di Maszin resonated with powerful energy in the exhibition space. Contemporary electronic and rock sounds interwoven with Yiddish lyrics captivated the audience and demonstrated how vibrant Jewish musical culture remains today.
The program also included important conversations about the real-life situation of Jewish artists in Poland — addressing the challenges posed by social polarization, experiences of exclusion, and the ways in which art can create spaces of community where formal structures are lacking. These discussions are as vital to us as any other part of the gathering, as they are where future initiatives and new directions for the network begin to take shape.
This year, Kultur-Lige also met with Limud Warsze, connecting the artistic community with a platform for Jewish learning and dialogue. This marks the beginning of a broader collaboration which — we hope — will lead in 2026 to even closer cooperation and the exploration of new formats.
We return strengthened, inspired, and ready for further collective action. Kultur-Lige is no longer just a project — it is a network of relationships, care, and shared responsibility that is actively reshaping the landscape of Jewish culture in Poland.
The event is organized by the Zapomniane Foundation, the POLIN Museum, and FestivALT.
The 5th Culture League Congress was made possible thanks to financial support from the EUJS - European Union of Jewish Students.
