Following Wisława Szymborska’s death, the Wisława Szymborska Foundation was established in April 2012, based on the poet’s will. The Foundation manages the Nobel Laureate’s literary legacy and organizes cultural and artistic events. Since 2012, the Foundation has also awarded a prize for the best poetry collection written in Polish or translated into Polish.

The event will feature readings of poems by Szymborska as well as selections from their own works by four poets: Maciej Bobula, Agata Jabłońska, Katarzyna Szweda, and Ilona Witkowska. All four have been nominated for the Wisława Szymborska Award: Ilona Witkowska in 2018 for “Lucyfer zwycięża,” Maciej Bobula in 2022 for “Pustko,” Agata Jabłońska for “Księżyc Grzybiarek,” and Katarzyna Szweda for “zemla vulgaris” (both in 2024).

The poets reading Szymborska’s works will be:

Agata Jabłońska (born 1985) – Poet, professionally connected with the National Museum in Kraków, involved in the creation of the special “Dixit MNK” game deck, and a former editor of the irregular publication “Stoner Polski.” Author of “Raport wojenny” (Biuro Literackie, 2017), “Dla moich dziewczyn” (Biuro Literackie, 2021), and “Księżyc Grzybiarek” (papierwdole-Katalog Press, 2023).

Ilona Witkowska (born 1987) – Poet and author of “splendida realta” (WBPiCAK, 2012), “Lucyfer zwycięża” (Ha!art, 2017), and “gdzie są moje dzieci?” (papierwdole-Katalog Press, 2021). Co-author of the screenplay for the short film “Jeśli będziesz długo siedzieć w ciszy, przyjdą do ciebie inne zwierzęta” directed by Jagoda Szelc and one of the authors of the “Nieswojość” project (Warstwy, 2019). She lives in Sokołowsko.

Katarzyna Szweda (born 1990) – Poet, photographer, and translator. Raised in Beskid Niski on Wrzosowa Polana. Author of two poetry collections: “Bosorka” (Biuro Literackie, 2020) and “zemla vulgaris” (Biuro Literackie, 2023).

Maciej Bobula (born 1988) – Residing partially in Poland and Denmark, author of poetic works including “wsie, animalia, miscellanea” (Fundacja Duży Format, 2018) and “Pustko” (Warstwy, 2022), as well as prose works such as “Szalejów” (wydawnictwo j, 2020) and “Franciszka, Maryśka i ja” (wydawnictwo j, 2020).

Musical accompaniment will be provided by Malwina Paszek – a multi-instrumentalist (hurdy-gurdy, accordion, carimba, zither, and piano, Slovak fujara), and vocalist. Her debut album, “Dziewuchy” (Fundacja Korba), was released in 2021 and is inspired by stories of women.