Marysia Hock, the MC: "Distinguished guests, friends and members of the Polish community, my name is Marysia and it is with great pleasure that I welcome you here today for the Official Opening of Pol-Art Adelaide 2009. We would like to pay our respects to the Kaurna people - Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet. We acknowledge their ancestors and their sharing of their ancestral lands.[/b]

As a proud 1st generation Australian with Polish heritage I was thinking about the last time I heard the Australian national anthem and in particular the second verse which ends with:
“For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia Fair”

To me that is what Pol-Art is all about. Celebrating the achievements of those who came across the seas and combined to advance “Australia fair”.

“Beneath our radiant southern cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands
to make this commonwealth of ours
renowned of all the lands”

So it is fitting that our first speaker is representing the premier of the state government of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Michael Atkinson".

Hon. Michael Atkinson

His Excellency Ambassador Andrzej Jaroszyñski

The next speaker was a Honorary Patron of Pol-Art, His Excellency Andrzej Jaroszynski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Australia. And the final speaker was Andrzej Munk, president of Pol-Art Adelaide 2009 Festival Committee.

Andrzej Munk speaking

The speech by Andrzej Munk: • Honourable Michael Atkinson, MP Attorney-General, representing the Premier, Patron of Pol-Art;
• Mr Hieu Van Le, Lieutenant Governor, Chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Commission,
• His Excellency Andrzej Jaroszynski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Honorary Patron of Pol-Art,
• Mr Dariusz Ross, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland,
• Mrs Dominika Mosek, Consul of the Republic of Poland,
• Mr Michael Harbison, The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Adelaide
• Mr Andrzej Alwast, President of the Polish Community Council in Australia and New Zealand Inc.
• Distinguished guests, friends and members of the Polish community.

Ladies and Gentlemen. My involvement in the organisation of the 11th Festival of Polish Visual and Performing Arts, PolArt Adelaide 2009, has been a great experience. What a magnificent event! A true celebration of Polish culture!

Rev. Fr K. Chwalek, Ursula Lang, Rev. Fr T. Przybylak, Bozena Pagin & Bogumila Filip

Sometimes we do not realise the extensive contribution that Poles bring to Australian and New Zealand culture. Pol-Art not only captures the diverse talents within the Polish community but also demonstrates its strength and vitality and significant contribution to the development and enrichment of our multicultural way of life. Every three years, since 1975, Pol-Art is on show. In Adelaide we have the privilege of hosting it for the third time.

This year we will enjoy folkloric groups, theatres, music ensembles, writers, short films, visual arts, and two classical music concerts. A special event during the 11th Pol-Art will be Dozynki, a Polish Harvest Fair, unique to South Australia. At its opening, hundreds of dancers from all over Australia and New Zealand will simultaneously perform the Krakowiak – a famous Polish National dance. The closing feature of the Festival will be a Chopin recital by Aleksander Kudajczyk, to commemorate 200th birth anniversary of our great composer.

The promotion of Polish culture has been extended in the music area. About thirty talented and gifted young musicians of non-Polish background learned music of Polish composers to play it during this opening ceremony and the first of classical music concerts. I would like to acknowledge all the parents, teachers, group leaders, helpers and other volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to ensure that Polish culture thrives Down Under.

Staging a Festival of this magnitude would not have been possible without the enthusiastic work of the Pol-Art Adelaide 2009 organising committee members and sub-committees. I thank you for your dedication and tireless work. I thank our families for their support and encouragement given over the last two and a half years.

I would like to thank the many Polish and non-Polish organisations for financial and other support. Without this support the festival would not have been presented on such a grand scale. I hope that all participants and spectators enjoy the PolArt Adelaide 2009 festival and have fond memories of this celebration of our beautiful Polish culture.

From left: Consul Dominika Mosek, Andrzej Alwast, President of Polish Organisations (...) Rev. Fr T. Bujakowski, Rev. Fr. Z. Broniarczyk