Marta has swapped the music world and boardrooms for the business of shaking up Gdańsk’s cultural scene. Now running the Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, she’s questioning festival fever, challenging the cultural establishment and dreaming of taking Polish art out to sea. We caught up with a woman who respects tradition but isn’t afraid to rock the boat.
You’ve worked in PR, music and business. Was there ever a career plan?
Not exactly a map, more a compass. I’ve always been curious about people and willing to take risks. Every experience gave me something I could use elsewhere. The common thread has always been connecting people and ideas.
You inherited NCK after Lawrence Ugwu’s 20-year leadership. Preserve or reinvent?
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevBoth. Lawrence left an important legacy, but respecting history doesn’t mean repeating it. Culture must respond to a changing world. I’m interested in meaningful development, not change for its own sake.
Can publicly funded culture ever be politically independent?
Public accountability is essential, but political interference in artistic programming is another matter. Independence means protecting creative freedom and remaining faithful to our mission, even when that’s uncomfortable.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevYou’ve criticised the obsession with festivals and events. Why?
We sometimes confuse activity with cultural significance. Counting concerts and visitors is easy. Measuring whether culture changes someone’s thinking or creates lasting relationships is much harder. We don’t always need more events. We need more meaning.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevHas the cultural world become an exclusive club?
That’s a real danger. Culture develops its own language and hierarchies. Accessibility isn’t just about ticket prices. It’s about making people feel welcome, even without specialist knowledge.
What should newcomers to Gdańsk experience at NCK?
Start with a concert at St John’s Centre, then discover the Old Town Hall. You don’t need fluent Polish to connect with culture. Sometimes belonging begins with a shared experience.
Unlimited budget. Complete artistic freedom. What’s your wildest idea?
A sailing ship carrying Pomeranian artists around the Baltic, stopping at ecological marinas, connecting creators, scientists and communities. A cultural expedition asking one question: What does it mean to be Baltic? We know the Mediterranean’s story. It’s time to tell ours.
Marta isn’t interested in filling calendars just to keep everyone happy. She wants culture that challenges, connects and actually means something. And if her dream of taking Pomeranian artists around the Baltic on a sailing ship ever becomes reality, we’ll be watching. Because Marta didn’t take the helm to play it safe. She came to make waves.