The goal of public and cultural diplomacy is to communicate with the societies of other countries. One of its most powerful tools is culture, broadly understood as a compelling narrative about a country, its traditions, history and the present the present day. Culture used as a tool for communication helps societies learn about and understand one another. As entities specialised in cultural diplomacy, the Polish Institutes play a unique role as Polish representatives, working to build bilateral relations and shape our country’s image abroad.

The Polish Institutes form a network of 25 branches specialised in cultural diplomacy and reporting to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They operate in capitals and other major cities. The programme of each Polish Institute reflects the priorities of Poland’s foreign policy, an integral part of which is public and cultural diplomacy. As one of their tasks, the Institutes support the promotion of Polish culture abroad. The Polish Institutes prepare their programmes with foreign audiences in mind as the key recipients of their activities.

The mission of the Polish Institutes is to build, by means of culture, a positive image of Poland abroad through effective partnerships, the Polish Institute brand, and attractive programmes.

Their core objectives include reaching out to the broadest possible audience of artists, experts, and opinion-makers worldwide to forge and foster good relationships of mutual trust in order to meet the goals of Polish foreign policy—to build Poland’s position abroad through partnerships, understanding, and shaping a positive image of Poland. The Polish Institutes inform about Poland, develop contacts in various cultural and scientific fields, disseminate our achievements in these areas, and promote the teaching of Polish as a foreign language.

Another aim of the Polish Institutes is to establish lasting contacts between Polish and foreign partners active in international cultural relations, e.g., within European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) framework.

They are also responsible for fulfilling commitments arising from Poland’s cultural agreements and programmes with other countries.

The Polish Institutes are essential in supporting cultural exchange between Poland and other countries and ensuring that Polish culture is present in the cultural landscape and social life of other countries. In this way they work to develop bilateral relations in the fields of culture, science, and education.

The Polish Institutes cooperate with Polish and foreign state institutions and recognised NGOs. This cooperation includes organising cultural events (concerts, film screenings, theatrical performances, exhibitions), educational and informational activities (programmes for children and other specific groups, dissemination of knowledge about Poland, language courses), academic events (seminars, lectures, conferences), and promotional events (participation in book, education, and design fairs). In their activities, the Institutes promote the Polish language and the achievements of Polish researchers in various fields, as well as supporting the staff and students of Polish, Slavic, and Central European studies departments at foreign universities.

Effectively shaping a positive image of Poland abroad also requires forging partnerships and building coalitions with domestic institutions. Therefore, the Polish Institutes worldwide cooperate with Polish organisations and cultural institutions on a regular basis.