Jan Karski’s 100th Birthday Celebrations in Łódż

, 16 November 2016
The city of Łódż will hold numerous events to mark the 100th birthday of Jan Karski, legendary emissary of the Polish Government-in-Exile. Events will include the opening of an exhibition, the screening of films and the premiere performance of “Emissary”.

One of the most important events will be the opening of the “Karski – Let the World Not Forget” exhibition prepared by the National Cultural Centre. This event will take place precisely on Karski’s 100th birthday – 24th April 2014. The exhibition will include photographs and films dedicated to the legendary emissary. Among those will attend the opening at the Centre for Dialogue will be President Bronisław Komorowski.

On that same day, the Łódż City Museum will open for visitors to the restored Karski study which was installed in1999. Also featured there are Karski’s family photographs, letters, diplomas presented by some prestigious institutions, medals, pictures, publications and personal items including the Order of the White Eagle, his Righteous Among the Nations medal, as well as of the Presidential Medal of Freedom presented to him posthumously by US President Barack Obama.

Following its renovation, the study will include Kaski’s links to the city of Łódż during his lifetime. Additional archival and audio-visual material has been included, among them items recalling the years of his youth. Items connected with his activities as a courier during World War II have been included, as well as those from the American chapter of his life.

The premiere performance of Emissary, directed by Daria Kopiec, will also take place on 24th April, in the Centre for Dialogue. The performance is connected to dramas, musicals, puppet theatre and live music.

Among other events linked to Karski’s birthday celebrations will be, among others, a happening prepared by school students from the Courier Club, a screening of the films The Man Who Wanted to Stop the Holocaust directed by Jan Grzyb and My Mission, followed by a meeting with its director Michał Fajbusiewicz. A memorial plaque will also be unveiled at the building which was once the high school attended by Karski.

Also included in the program will be a meeting with Prof. Marian Drozdowski, Jan Karski’s biographer, as well as with Władysław Bartoszewski. 2zł coins will also be able to be exchanged for coins featuring Jan Karski.

Source: PAP