What will be done and by whom in 2017

For social organizations that act based on ministerial donations, beginning of the year is a time of waiting for results of applications for the particular year. It is time when majority (although not all) of the organizations do not do anything and they become more active when their accounts get full. You cannot say it about, e.g. the Ruska Bursa Association which is, among others, a publisher of an officially registered in the court as a daily – LEM.fm radio – they cannot afford even a minute of rest. The radio is broadcasting constantly, for 24 hours, a dozen or so people are involved. The PanRusyn portal is inseparable from the radio, it was established without donations a few years ago, as a support for the radio and it turned into a developed website that is updated several times a day, which new people are joing all the time. Apart from that, the Ruska Bursa Association at the beginning of each year organizes a Review of Carolling Groups for the students  of Lemko language. It was similar this year, with the only difference that carollers ended up as far as to the Kraków Square to show Lemko language and Christmas wishes. Additionally, the Ruska Bursa library is run every day (within the time frame specified here) and the Terochka ensemble has already performed this year.

The decisions on granting this year’s donations from the Ministry of Interior and Administration took place in two stages. The first information on division of the funds for realization of tasks that aim to protect, save and develop the cultural identity of national and ethnic minorities, as well as save and develop the regional languages, appeared in December 2016. Back then, it turned out  that 2/3 of the amount destined for minorities was divided, i.e. about 10 mln zlotys. Unsatisfied organizations were given time until 17 January 2017 to send applications with the request for a new consideration of the submitted applications. At the end of February 2017 on the website of the Department of National and Ethnic Minorities, a final decision of the Ministry was put on the donations for this year’s projects.

There was less drama when it comes to informing on the division of donations for programmes of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. No extra time was needed. In the middle of February, files with data on donations of the projects from chosen programmes were put on the website.

Below we introduce a list of donations for organizations that call themselves as Lemko or those that more or less act for the Lemko culture. Some of them openly declare their unity with the Lemko identity, they negate Lemko language (which is one of the basic characteristics that define a separate identity), that is why it is surprising they apply for grants from Lemko pool. The law of 6 January on national and ethnic minorities and on regional language clearly presents national and ethnic minorities. Among them there are both Ukrainians and Lemkos. Some societies declare ecumenic unity and fraternising. Only some do not flirt with others and stick to the Lemko identity.

A list of donations from both of the Ministries:

• Kychera Lemko Song and Dance Ensemble 897.000 zlotys:
•  reconstruction and development of the ensemble’s headquarters.. (III stage) 678.000 zlotys,
• current activities of the Ensemble… 29.000 zlotys,
• activity of a studio for Lemko studies research 20.000 zlotys,
• organization of the XX International Folklorist  Festival Svit pid Kycherom 80.000 zlotys,
• artistic activity 90.000 zlotys.

• Lemko Tower Association 190.050 zlotys:

• Orwell, Animal Farm in Lemko 16.000 zlotys.
• Polish-Lemko phrasebook Let’s speak Lemko 13.000 zlotys
• Lemko TV 15.000 zlotys,
• Radio Lemko 50.000 zlotys
• Vatra in Ługi 55.000 zlotys,
• activity of the ensembles: Lemko Tower and Lemko Tower Junior 29.050 zlotys,
•  financial and accounting service of the Association 12.000 zlotys,
• Old Road Foundation 40.000 zlotys
• Lemkoland – Lemko educational magazine for children 15.000 zlotys,
• Lemkoland – education through fun 10.000 zlotys,
• Lemko Booklet 15.000 zlotys.
• Eparchal Centre of Orthodox Culture Elpis 89.000 zlotys:
• running of a library and a digital studio 10.500               zlotys,
• XII Polandwide competition of Lemko poetry for students of primary and middle schools 8.500        zlotys,
• conservation of old prints in                                               cyrillic 70.000 zlotys.
• Association for Development of the Museum of Lemko Culture 96.000 zlotys:
• maintenance of the museum 20.000 zlotys,
• activities of the museum 20.000 zlotys,
• acitivity of the library and archive… 13.000                     zlotys,
• Od Rusal do Jana 2017 25.000 zlotys,
• publishing of the Museum’s yhearbook 8.000                  zlotys.
• stocktaking of the museum’s collection 10.000                zlotys.
• Association of Promotion of the Lemko works Serencza 23.000 zlotys:
• current activity of the ensemble 8.000 zlotys,
• concert entitled Artistic interpretation of                         tradition of 20 years of the Serencza folk                         ensemble 15.000 zlotys.
• Lemko Association 181.000 zlotys:
• Activity of the Association… 15.500 zlotys
• Activity of the Song and Dance Ensemble Lastivochka and Children Ensemble Lastivchata 25.000 zlotys
• XXXV Lemko Art Autumn 5.500 zlotys
• “Lemko Yearbook for 2017” 8.000 zlotys
• “Besida” bimonthly 30.000 zlotys
• XXXVIII Lemko Vatra in the exile 60.000
• XI Meetings of the Three Generations with Lemko Culture 7.000 zlotys
• XXV Meetings with Lemko Culture 10.000 zlotys
• Promotion of  folk customs of Lemkos through reconstruction and presentation of artistic performance Lemko Wedding 20.000 zlotys

• Ruska Bursa Association 377.000 zlotys
• Support for running of  the Ruska Bursa centre of Lemko culture 25.000 zlotys
• Ruska Bursa – running of the cultural centre, common room and library 12.000 zlotys
• Managing of Terka and Terochka ensembles 15.000 zlotys
• Publishing of the “Ruska Bursa Yearbook” 2017 8.000 zlotys
• Lem.fm+weekly 20.000 zlotys
• Publishing of the monography of Lemko village of Bilcarowa 12.000 zlotys
• LEM.fm Lemko radio 285.000 zlotys

• Lemko Union 289.000 zlotys
• The current activity of the Union 27.000
• Meetings with Lemkovyna 9.000
• XVII Lemko Jerusalem 11.000
• “Vatra” quarterly 25.000
• Lemko kermesses 9.000
• Lemkivskij Perstenyk ensemble 3.000
• XXXV Vatra in Zdynia 205.000

Apart from the aforementioned, also other institutions will deal with Lemko heritage:

• Commune Culture Cemtre in Uście Ruskie was given 20.000 zlotys for organization of a task entitled Woodcarving” in Nowica
• The Museum of Karwacjan and Gładysz Family Manors will organize a series of singing workshops entitled Master of tradition – Julia Doszna, donation 19.963
• A Catholic parish in Uście Ruskie was given 140.000 for a renovation of some elements and part of the interior of the church of St Paraskeva in Kwiatoń
• A Catholic parish in Powroźnik got 300.000 for setting automatic installation for putting out fire in the Lemko church of St Jacob in Powroźnik.