The gala of the Kazimierz Kutz Award was held on 16 February 2022 at the Stanisław Wyspiański Silesian Theatre in Katowice.
The laureate of the second edition of the competition is a graduate of the Interfaculty Individual Humanities Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice, writer Szczepan Twardoch. He received the award for the multi-threaded novel “Pokora”, published by Wydawnictwo Literackie in 2020.
Because who more boldly than Twardoch today – like Kutz yesterday – faces the Silesian identity, who more bluntly and with more stubbornness, but without a guarantee of effect, explains to us that you need to live your life, without worrying what others think of us: “Let us stop asking for recognition from others, let us recognise ourselves. Let us make ourselves on our own.” And his novel is also like that: rebellious, painful and filled with the wisdom of generations who have been working for this Silesian typical for Twardoch alloy for centuries. And they have worked.
Andrzej Gwóźdź (fragment of laudation)
For the first time, an honorary award in the form of the title of the Ambassador of Silesia was also granted. It was awarded to Prof. Tadeusz Sławek, the former Rector of the University of Silesia in the years 1996–2002, for his involvement in the affairs of the place where he lives.
His strong, commonly felt presence in the city and the region makes Tadeusz Sławek somebody much more than an outstanding professor, university rector, poet, committed intellectual who – as Kant wanted – makes public use of his intelligence. Half a century of unflagging intellectual, artistic, didactic, and political activity meant that the next generations live in wise and friendly radiation of his life and work.
Prof. Ryszard Koziołek (fragment of laudation)
The group of nominees also included:
- Joanna Helander, photographer, documentary films director, writer and translator,
- Tomasz Konior, architect,
- Zbigniew Rokita, writer,
- Wojciech Smarzowski, film director.
The jury consisted of, among others, persons associated with the University of Silesia: Rector, Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, Dean of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia, Krystyna Doktorowicz, PhD, DLitt, Assoc. Prof., as well as an academic lecturer, publicist and literary critic, and graduate of the University of Silesia Jerzy Illg, PhD, and media expert from the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Silesia, Prof. Andrzej Gwóźdź.
The award has been awarded since 2021 by the Silesian Theatre, the City of Katowice and the University of Silesia to artists presenting an attitude close to the patron of the award, Kazimierz Kutz. The award aims to honour individuals for their remarkable artistic achievements which play an important role in public discourse, and contribute to creating a more democratic and tolerant society.
You can see the photo report from the gala on the website of the University of Silesia.
The laudation speeches are available on the website of the Silesian Theatre.
Kazimierz Kutz Award with certificate of authenticity | photo: Grzegorz Bargieła from WKatowicach.eu