Polish Artist Advocate Counters Politician's Dismissal of Creative Work

Polish politician Sławomir Mentzen has drawn criticism for his dismissive comments regarding artists, which Paweł Potoroczyn describes as demonstrating a lack of culture and understanding. Potoroczyn, in response to what he calls escalating populist sentiments against the arts community, initiated the "Kultura w Pracy" (Culture at Work) program. This initiative seeks to illustrate to other industries that individuals in the arts are workers like any others, albeit engaged in different spheres of life.

The program directly addresses the polarization in Poland between the "world of work" and the "creative class," a relationship often marked by mistrust, pity, or outright contempt, as exemplified by Mentzen's remarks. To counter what he anticipates as crude confrontations and unworthy epithets, Potoroczyn's program literally embeds artists within workplaces. For instance, a writer works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, in a visible studio, allowing employees, clients, and suppliers to witness the process from arrival to departure.

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(...) warto przypomnieć, że wyraz ten pochodzi od niemieckiego debiler Mensch, a to znów z łacińskiego przymiotnika debilis, czyli »słaby, wątły, bezsilny, kaleki« Przez jakiś czas funkcjonował on w profesjolekcie psychiatrycznym, oznaczając osobę upośledzoną umysłowo w stopniu lekkim: poziom intelektualny osób dorosłych charakterystyczny dla 12. roku życia

This empirical approach aims to demonstrate to the business world that creativity is a demanding job requiring discipline, rigor, time, and concentration. Simultaneously, it aims to show creators where the funding for their projects, grants, institutions, and scholarships originates. Potoroczyn asserts, "We are conducting empirical proof – THIS IS WORK," even if some politicians lack the intellectual capacity to comprehend or respect it.

Potoroczyn strongly condemns Mentzen's "insulting" speech, questioning how someone like him could lead a country within the EU's top six and the global top twenty. He refrains from using derogatory terms, referencing a past promise to a former minister of culture and adhering to a request for respectful public debate. However, he expresses a fervent hope, supported by considerable evidence, that Poland will be spared a prime minister with the intellect of a twelve-year-old. He notes that beyond the statements made by figures like Trump and Putin against artists, such public discourse is increasingly rare in Europe.

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We have done everything in our power, also the Federal Foreign Minister, also I personally, many cabinet colleagues, to make it possible for us to get the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations.