Abstrakcja i rzeczywistość. Przedsiębiorstwa PRL-u jako fabryki sztuki

Abstract

Part of enterprises that were active during the time of Polish People’s Republic was fulfilling the role of an industrial art patrons, sponsoring and organising different types of artistic projects. The factories were however first and foremost obliged to fulfil the national industrial plans and their production norms, both of which could be impeded by their cultural and artistic activities. In this article the author poses a following question: why was it that the enterprises were sponsoring artistic events and how were they benefitting from it? To provide an answer, the author focused on three events under the industrial patronage – Biennale of Spatial Forms in Elbląg, 1st Symposium of Fine Artists and Scientists in Puławy as well as 1st Biennale of Metal Sculptures in Warsaw – and conducted an analysis of scientific and specialist literature on their topic. On this basis, the author drew the conclusion that the advantages related to the patronage had mostly a social character and resulted from building positive relations with the authorities, local communities and employees.