About the program
Starting February 10, 2025, applications can be submitted for the pilot grant program "Language Diversity." We subsidize cultural projects implemented in 2025 and involving the preservation, protection, revitalization, research and popularization of minority and regional languages, dialects and dialects found in Poland, as well as Polish Sign Language (PJM). This is the first state program focused on these types of issues and the most important tool for supporting other entities, created as part of our institute's activities.
Highlights
The Language Diversity Program is open to local government cultural institutions, non-governmental organizations, rural housewives' circles, churches and religious associations.
The grant is intended to cover the costs of projects that fall into one of the following six categories:
- art ventures;
- educational activities;
- meetings, symposia, conferences and publication of post-conference materials;
- The development of archives and repositories, portals that document and collect knowledge about the languages and culture associated with it;
- Preparation of educational materials for minority languages and local language varieties;
- Conducting social campaigns, social actions indicating the values of multilingualism and cultural diversity.
The minimum amount of funding is PLN 20,000. The maximum amount of co-financing is PLN 80,000. Co-financing can be up to 80% of the task budget, which means that the own contribution is a minimum of 20% of the task budget.
The call for proposals runs until March 10, 2025. The initiative subsidized in this year's edition of the "Language Diversity" grant program must be implemented by November 30, 2025.
Where to find detailed information and documents
We encourage you to read the rules of the program and download the regulations and other necessary documents. They are available on the website of the Institute for Linguistic Diversity of the Republic of Poland irjr.pl under the "Programs" tab.
Statement by Anna Wotlinska, acting director of the Institute:
"For decades, the belief that only dictionary Polish is the best medium for artistic and cultural endeavors has lingered in the Polish public space. Meanwhile, Polish is an excellent creative medium, but not the only one. There are also dialects, dialects, as well as minority and regional languages, which until recently were used more for home communication and were associated only with so-called folk art.
Fortunately, this attitude has been changing in recent years. Communities are beginning to take an interest in how they speak and, as much as possible, are taking care to preserve their speech. After all, everyone is "from somewhere," and wherever they go, they carry their personal dictionary with them. We are beginning to see that linguistic and cultural diversity is a value. Podlasie "herringbone" or Silesian "godka" are no longer a reason to be ashamed. More and more creators, artists, animators and educators, but also lovers of local culture are using regional and minority languages, dialects, dialects, dialects, Polish sign language and other migrant languages in their activities, which build the linguistic landscape of Poland. More and more people are trying to cultivate through language, but also to mark their own separate identity. Our program was created to support them.
It is worth noting that this is the first grant program of its kind in the country and is a pilot program. We will listen to the voices of institutions and organizations dealing with linguistic and cultural diversity in Poland and, to the extent possible, respond to their needs. Employees of various institutions, community activists and all others who will take part in the competition are not only beneficiaries of funds for us, but also partners."
Contact
For applicants (Monday through Friday on weekdays from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm):
Krzysztof Marszałek
tel: +48 531 684 143
e-mail: kmarszalek@irjr.pl
Anna Wozniak
tel: +48 451 040 489
e-mail: awozniak@irjr.pl
For the media:
Piotr Kieżun
tel: +48 534 356 152
e-mail: pkiezun@irjr.pl
About the Institute for Linguistic Diversity of the Republic
We are a state cultural institution established in 2024 by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Our main task is to popularize the knowledge of Poland's linguistic diversity. We support and initiate cultural, educational and research activities covering regional languages (including Kashubian, legally recognized as such), languages of national minorities (including German, Ukrainian, Czech, Lithuanian) and ethnic minorities (including Karaim, Lemko), dialects and language varieties, migrant languages and Polish sign language.
We operate in the spirit of respect for cultural diversity, accessibility for all, openness and understanding through dialogue.
