Gaude Polonia 2026: PLN 5,000 a month for artists

The Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage is accepting applications for the Gaude Polonia scholarship programme until 15 October 2026. The scholarship pays PLN 5,000 gross per month for six months, and the programme rules state directly that it addresses artists from Ukraine and Belarus first.

So this is the most direct Polish channel for the Ukrainian creative community, and also one of the few European instruments where an individual applies in person. No legal entity, consortium or partner organisation is needed.

This guide covers the conditions, the eligible fields, a submission method that differs from the usual one, and the calendar up to the decision.

What the programme offers

In fact Gaude Polonia has run since 2003. Since then it has funded six-month scholarship stays in Poland for young artists and translators from Central and Eastern European countries.

The call for the 26th edition opened in late June 2026. Also the National Centre for Culture in Warsaw acts as operator, while the Minister of Culture and National Heritage takes the decision.

Amount and period

In total the scholarship pays PLN 5,000 gross per month. The 26th edition runs from 1 February to 31 July 2027, meaning exactly six months.

Beyond the money, each holder receives a tutor from among Polish experts in their field. That comes as part of the programme, and it separates Gaude Polonia from an ordinary living-cost scholarship.

Fields

Specifically, the fields are film, photography, art conservation, literature and translation, museology, music, visual arts, theatre and dance. In addition the list covers the history and criticism of film, music, art and theatre.

So the programme takes in both those who create and those who research and write about art. For art historians and critics that is a rare case where the field list does not screen them out.

Translation deserves a separate mention. Literary translators rarely appear in scholarship programmes as a category in their own right, and here they sit on the same line as writers. For a translator working from or into Polish, six months with a tutor covers exactly the need that a two-week residency leaves open.

Who can apply

In practice the conditions here are personal, so checking your eligibility takes five minutes.

• Citizenship. Ukraine, Belarus or another Central and Eastern European or post-socialist state.
• Age. Up to 40. In exceptional cases up to 45.
• Education. Completed higher education.
• Language. Polish at least at basic level.
• Achievements. Documented artistic achievements in your field.

An individual applies. That is a fundamental difference from most European culture calls, which require a legal entity or a partner institution. Here you submit personally, and no search for a Polish partner is needed.

The Polish language requirement at basic level means, in practice, being able to communicate with a tutor and work in Polish archives or studios. Although the programme asks for no certificate, an honest self-assessment pays off, because six months without the language turn into six months of isolation.

The age limit counts at the moment of submission. An exception up to 45 exists, though it remains exceptional, and treating it as the rule is unwise.

How to apply: a method that differs from the usual

This is where most surprises wait for anyone used to European portals.

There is no electronic submission. Instead applications go in person or by post to the National Centre for Culture at ul. Plocka 13, 01-231 Warszawa. For postal submissions the postmark date decides, so send with time to spare.

Two references are mandatory. Specifically, they come from creators recognised in the relevant field. That part of the package cannot be done in an evening, because a referee needs time to write and you cannot chase them. Arrange this immediately.

A description of the scholarship project concept. Overall this forms the substantive core of the application: what exactly you will do in Poland across six months, and why that requires being there.

The call page on the NCK website publishes the full document list and the forms. Open it before drafting, because the operator updates requirements between editions.

The calendar and what it means for planning

First, the National Centre for Culture runs the formal assessment within 45 days after the call closes. Then a commission appointed by the Minister handles the substantive review.

Decisions arrive no earlier than 1 December and no later than 15 December 2026. So roughly two months pass between submission and answer.

The practical consequence. Between a December decision and a 1 February start there are six weeks for visa matters, housing and commitments at home. That is tight, so work through the logistics before applying.

Gaude Polonia runs annually, and the call traditionally opens in late June with an October deadline. So if gathering references proves too tight this time, the next edition will follow the same schedule.