Katarzyna Herbert memory evening
On Wednesday October 29 the Palace of the Commonwealth hosted a Katarzyna Herbert memory evening, co-organised by the Zbigniew Herbert Foundation and the National Library.
While welcoming guests dr Tomasz Makowski, the National Library Director General, spoke about a close relationship of the Library with Katarzyna Herbert.
This was the first such evening during which she was not present, nor did she share a message with the participants. Dr Makowski recalled her decision to pass the poet’s archive to the National Library – a place providing archive safety, proper storage conditions and protection as well as discretion and sensitivity while making archives available to the public. She also decided not to share a part of the archive of a private character.
Director Makowski thanked the Foundation for cultivating the heritage of the poet and his wife. He recalled the successes of the Foundation and the enormous interest the last year exhibition devoted to Herbert – visited by 117K people, which he recognised as a proof of appreciation of and continued popularity of the poet. He also pointed out the role of libraries as places safe and full of care when it comes to culture and memory thereof. In closing, he expressed gratitude for dr Maria Dzieduszycka who heads the Herbert Foundation for co-operation and stressed how important the memory of Zbigniew and Katarzyna Herbert is.
The poet’s wife was recalled by: Maria Dzieduszycka, Justyna Guze, Piotr Kłoczowski and Adam Michnik.
