Instytut Liszta, Warszawa

Instytut Liszta is Warsaw’s Hungarian cultural centre, a place where Hungarian art, learning, history, and culture meet Polish audiences. Established in nineteen thirty-five, it belongs among Poland’s longest-serving cultural institutes created by another country. War forced it to close, and an agreement between states enabled its return in nineteen forty-eight.

During Hungary’s anti-communist uprising in nineteen fifty-six, Warsaw residents brought donations here, gave money, and placed flowers beside Franciszek Starowieyski’s print of a grieving dove. Students also kept honorary vigils outside. Its story is a record of cultural exchange rather than merely a programme of events.

The institute has helped bring Hungarian writers to Poland, supported literary translation, and enabled performances by Hungarian theatre companies. Over the past half-century, one hundred and fifty Hungarian plays have been staged in Poland. Film-makers including Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Zanussi came here to meet Hungarian colleagues, while music programmes ranged from symphony performers to rock and folk artists.

The institute moved to Moniuszki Street in two thousand nine, and adopted the Liszt Institute name in two thousand twenty-one. It continues with exhibitions, talks, conferences, Hungarian-language courses, and a library with a reading room.