Category: Debut
Piotr Pejski, a student of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Lodz, is among the nominees. He is an example of someone who successfully combines academic development with creative passion. He has been involved with folklore since the age of 12 and performs in a local ensemble in Lipce Reymontowskie. His everyday life revolves around music, traditional costumes, design and craftsmanship, including hand and machine embroidery. He taught himself traditional craft techniques such as embroidery and weaving, beginning with very simple attempts. Over time, he progressed to more advanced tools – first a tabletop loom and later traditional folk looms – learning the entire process of fabric production from the ground up. His story demonstrates that academic studies and personal passion can reinforce one another, and that folklore – often perceived as niche – can become an inspiring and vibrant element of contemporary identity.
Read more about Piotr Pejski’s creative work: "During the Pandemic, I Danced with a Broom at Home" – UniLodz Student Has Been Living Folk Culture since He Was 12
Category: Event
The “Łódzkie Wykłady z Poetyki” [Łódź Lectures on Poetics] project was also nominated – a unique initiative of the Faculty of Philology at the University of Lodz, which has been bringing together outstanding figures of contemporary literature since 2018. The initiative began with a visit by Olga Tokarczuk – in the same year she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Since then, the University has hosted, among others, Wiesław Myśliwski, Andrzej Stasiuk and Monika Sznajderman, Mariusz Szczygieł, Joanna Bator, Dorota Masłowska, and this year – Michał Witkowski. The lectures attract wide audiences and constitute a significant event within the sphere of high culture. Thanks to the diverse perspectives of invited authors, participants gain insight into the creative process, reflection on literature, and the role of imagination and experience in writing.
Listen to the "Łódzkie Wykłady z Poetyki” on Spotify.
A recording of Michał Witkowski’s lecture – a meeting about the courage to write in one’s own voice and curiosity towards human experience – is now available on the “Science Inspires” YouTube channel.
Category: Animator
Maria Nowakowska – a VIP Alumnus of UniLodz, cultural animator, promoter of architecture and author of numerous projects carried out under the brand “Maria od detalu” i salso among the nominees. Her work includes dozens of initiatives in over 20 cities. However, her contribution to discovering and promoting Łódź’s heritage is of particular importance. She is a co-creator of the Ceramic Trail of Nawrot Street – a project that combines art, history and urban identity.
This unique initiative has resulted in ceramic installations commemorating craftsmen and artists associated with Nawrot Street. Each element of the trail is a small work of art, while also serving as a marker of memory and a local narrative.
University of Lodz – an Active Participant in City Life
The Wiosła Kultury 2026 gala was held on 19 June in the Monopolis complex. For the University of Lodz, cooperation in this initiative is not only a distinction, but above all a natural consequence of our mission.
As a university strongly rooted in Łódź, we actively support individuals who, through their creative, social and academic work, shape the city’s identity. The presence of University of Lodz representatives among the nominees demonstrates that we are a community of creative, engaged people who confidently operate at the intersection of science and culture.
It is precisely thanks to them that the humanities and cultural activity remain a vibrant and essential element of our university – and at the same time an important contribution to the city’s development.
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, University of Lodz
Edit: Agata Dawidowicz, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University
Photos: Marcin Stępień (Agencja Wyborcza.pl), Tomasz Stańczak, private archive of Piotr Pejski
