"Chopin embodies everything we were forbidden, vibrant kontusz attires, gold-woven belts, sombre czamarka coats, rogatywka peaked caps, the rattle of our noble sabres, the lustres of peasants’ scythes, a groan escaped from a wounded chest, the rebellion of a tethered spirit, cemetery crosses, village churches siding country roads, troubled hearts’ fervent prayers, the pain of bondage, the longing for freedom, the cursing of tyrants and the glorious song of victory." (Ignacy Jan Paderewski)


The Year 2010 is a unique opportunity for integrated, profound and attractive promotion of Poland and building a positive image of the country and its people capitalising on the personality, talent and accomplishments of Fryderyk Chopin.

"Chopin is a value that has been alive in all the world’s cultures for nearly 200 years now. He is a specific symbol of excellence. At the same time, we, the Poles, as a country and as a nation, due to different historical circumstances, we are burdened from the external perspective with a catalogue of stereotypes, which need not be listed here. I see the Chopin Year as an opportunity to carry out the biggest ever image campaign, making it possible to bring the perception of contemporary Poland nearer to this symbol of excellence."

(Waldemar Dąbrowski, Chairman of the CHOPIN 2010 Celebrations Committee).

The Jubilee Year gathers an impressive range of different Polish and foreign entities which get eagerly involved in developing Chopin anniversary projects. Many institutions reporting to the ministries of culture, education, foreign affairs, tourism and infrastructure have made the Chopin Year celebrations their priorities for 2010. It is an enticing opportunity for local communities, cities and whole regions to launch artistic, education, promotion and tourist initiatives appealing to different generations.

"The organisational tasks preceding the Chopin Year celebrations are about exceeding all possible barriers: between countries and continents, in time and inability, but, first and foremost, they are about remembering about our youngest ones. Remembering smartly. We should not "wear the audience out" with Chopin. The year devoted to this great composer, great artist, is a time of great "tiding up", of celebrations and of education. The latter is especially important for me. I cannot imagine a situation where an educated man or woman is not able to recognise at least the most basic Chopin works."

(Bogdan Zdrojewski, Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage).