Autonomy of Music NGOs: the Finale of the Mentoring Program

On May 30, 2026, the Hashtag Lab Contemporary Music Centre will host panel discussions featuring representatives of music NGOs that participated in the mentoring program organized by the "Meakultura" Foundation. This six-month collaboration under the guidance of industry experts will culminate in debates on the future of the cultural sector in Poland.

The free-of-charge program "Musical NGOs: Competence Mentoring" was created to support non-governmental organisations operating in the field of musical culture that wish to develop their activities in a more strategic and long-term manner. The program was supported by the Society of Authors ZAiKS and the National Institute of Music and Dance.

As part of the program, the NGOs—selected from numerous applications from all over Poland—participated in a series of in-person and online meetings. They also benefited from the support of industry experts (Aleksandra Sewerynik, PhD; Magdalena Czaplińska, PhD; Krzysztof Jakubowski; Marcin Bielicki, PhD; Tomasz Schimanek; Katarzyna Bąk; Marlena Wieczorek, PhD; Tomasz Pawłowski; and Agnieszka Piórkowska, PhD) tailored to the individual needs of each organisation. From November 2025 to May 2026, the participants built competencies in areas such as copyright law, fundraising, advocacy, accessibility, and service development, as well as building a lasting brand. The project focused on practical support, which is often lacking in standard training programs addressed to the non-governmental sector. The participants received individual guidance from mentors, including the President of the MEAKULTURA Foundation, Marlena Wieczorek, PhD, and Tomasz Pawłowski (trzeci.org).

The finale of the program will feature three expert panel discussions focusing on the future of the cultural sector and the role of NGOs in shaping it: "The Role of the State: Support, Partnership, or Competition?", "The Patronage of Culture of the Future", and "Official Ethics: A Campaign to Develop New Standards of Cooperation".

The event will also provide a space for networking, exchanging experiences, and discussing new solutions for the cultural sector. Admission is free, however registration via the application form is mandatory:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdN1pAe1wY4FG3smDhDVv_aFh06vGHAI6B7IBuSo8l_EFQidw/viewform 

More information about the mentoring program: https://fundacjameakultura.pl/muzyczne-ngo-sy-mentoring-kompetencyjny/ 

More information about the panel discussions: https://hashtaglab.pl/event/panele-dyskusyjne-autonomia-muzycznych-ngo/ 

The Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC is a media patron of the Hashtag Lab Contemporary Music Centre.