In 1993 the editors of "POLITYKA" ("Politics") weekly established a prize called the PASZPORT "POLITYKI" / "POLITYKA" PASSPORT, also referred to as the "PASSPORTS TO EUROPE". The editors' aim was to recognize artists who had broken the boundaries of public artistic success. On January 7, 2003, the editors of "POLITYKA" announced the winners of the PASSPORTS - a distinction of some prestige in Poland - for the tenth time. Thus far the award has gone to 54 individuals, including writers, actors, directors, visual artists, and singers. Together, they have contributed significantly to that unusual mix that has constituted Polish culture over the past decade. Piotr Sarzynski, in his article titled "Show Me Your Passports" ("POLITYKA" no. 50/2380/, December 14, 2002), writes, "Although it is hard for us at 'POLITYKA' to believe this, we handed out the first Passports convinced that they would be a one-time act of recognition for a handful of artists. Instead, the award has survived an entire decade and become something of a comment on the cultural realities of Poland in these new times."

The tenth anniversary edition of the "POLITYKA" PASSPORTS will be supplemented by a festival consisting of a series of events involving past winners and spanning three cities (Warsaw, Szczecin, and Wroclaw). The "POLITYKA" PASSPORTS Festival is scheduled to include a number of concerts, exhibitions of works by past victors, and presentations of films and stage productions created by directors and involving actors who have been recognized by the magazine. Also scheduled are a series of literary meetings as well as public discussions about Polish film and the state of Polish culture in general. The festival will conclude on February 8, 2003 with a gala concert that will feature a range of stars of the stage and be broadcast by Channel 2 of Polish State Television.

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