On Spetember 18th-27th 2015 Gorlice and the nearby Szymbark shall host the first Zygmunt Haupt Festival. The festival is an initiative created by people and institutions who wish to promote the creative work of Zygmunt Haupt, the greatest of the inequitably forgotten Polish authors. The event was initiated by Andrzej Stasiuk, who serves as Artistic Director of the Festival. The festival is planned to be a recurring yearly event.

The event has two basic goals. The first one is to reinstate the memory of exceptional author Zygmunt Haupt, to familiarise the recipients with his creative work and his life along with the historical context of his times. To achieve this, the festival will hold topical meetings with researchers who focus on the festival patron’s work. The second goal of the event is to participate in the development of the Polish literary scene, to promote reading as well as valuable phenomena of modern literature and art. The Festival shall thus feature a series of meetings with recognised authors from Poland and Europe, as well as accompanying events: concerts, a screening of a biographical film, a monodrama, readings. Admission to all program events will be free.

The festival features a literary competition addressed to unpublished authors, the main award in which is 5,000 zł. There will also be a Polish-English catalogue presenting the profile of the festival, and events that constitute it. The catalogue will include essays about Zygmunt Haupt, written by researchers and experts. The recording of audio-visual footage of the topical and auteur meetings is planned. The festival’s visual identity was created by Zuzanna Rogatty.

The organisers of the Zygmunt Haupt Festival  are:  the Academic Office of Culture and Art Alma-Art, Stanisław Gabryel Municipal Public Library in Gorlice, Gorlice City Council, and the Czarne Publishing House. The project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Gorlice City Council, and the Gorlice Municipality.