Piotr Cywiński

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Piotr M.A. Cywiński
Piotr M.A. Cywiński

Piotr M.A. Cywiński, PhD
Born (1972-04-16) April 16, 1972
Warsaw
Nationality Polish
Occupation historian, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, president of Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation
Religion Christian: Roman Catholic
Awards Golden Cross of Merit (Poland), Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta (Poland), Officer's Cross of Polonia Restituta (Poland), "Bene Merito" Honour (Poland), Knight of Order of the Crown (Belgium), Knight of the Order of St. Charles (Monaco)

Piotr M. A. Cywiński (born 16 April 1972 in Warsaw) is a professional historian and Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, active participant and often initiator in the Polish-Jewish and Christian-Jewish dialogue, and an ecumenist devoted to reconciliation of the various denominations among the cultures of the borderlands.[1]

Life

Born in 1972 he spent his early childhood in Warsaw. Between 1982 and 1993 Piotr Cywiński lived in Switzerland and France as a result of his father's, Bohdan Cywiński's, political exile.

Cywiński graduated from the University of Humanities in Strasbourg (1993) as historian of the Middle Ages, and the Catholic University of Lublin (1995). He obtained his PhD degree at the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) in 2001.[1]

Professional career

In 1996–2000 Piotr Cywiński served as vice-president, and for following decade (2000 - 2010) the President of Club of Catholic Intelligentsia (KIK) in Warsaw. Since 2010 Board Member of KIK. In 2002 he co-founded the St. Adalbert's Forum, which he has been chairing until January 2010. He co-organized the Congresses of Gniezno in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2004 Cywiński was elected vice-president (and regional president for Europe) of the global federation of Catholic intellectuals Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC for the mandate 2004-2008.[1]

In the years 2000 - 2006 he served as Secretary of International Council of Auschwitz Memorial Site. On June 12, 2006 Cywinski has received a nomination for director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which position he assumed on September 1 that year, replacing Jerzy Wróblewski, who was the Museum's director for many years. Co-creator of International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust and vice president of the Center's council. In 2009 co-created the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation and since then serves as president of the foundation.[1] Since 2009 member of the Museums' Council to the Minister of Culture (mandate IV and V), and in 2010 appointed for the 4-year-long mandate as member of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites.[2] He also serves as vice-president of the Council of Museum of the Independence Traditions in Łódź, and as member of the first mandate of the Council, later - since 2012 - as member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of World War II in Gdańsk. He is a member of the Council of Museum Gross-Rosen in Rogoźnica.

Council member of the Maximilian-Kolbe-Werk Foundation, founded by the catholic Bishops' Council of Germany. Since 2011 board member of the Association Maison d’Izieu, memorial site in France.

In 2000-2002 while working for the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Cywiński has co-directed Festival "Europalia 2001 Poland", then created a portal about Jewish culture and history in Poland: "Diapozytyw.pl". 2001-2004 member of Consultative Council of NGOs at Polish Council for European Integration. Since May 2002 member of the Polish Episcopate's Group for Dialogue with Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine.[1]

In elections 2004, candidate for Member of European Parliament on behalf of Freedom Union. Between 2005 and 2007, Piotr Cywiński was vice-president of the association Wikimedia Poland, since May 2007 is a member of the Audit Committee of the association.[1]

In 2008, Cywiński served as ambassador of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Honors and awards

Piotr Cywinski was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit in 2006. On April 15, 2008, Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland, awarded Cywiński the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and, on January 20, 2010, he received the Officer's Cross of the Polonia Restituta. In 2013 polish Minister of Foreign Affairs awarded him "Bene Merito" award for his activities in strengthening the position of Poland in the international arena.

In 2008 nominated to the TOTUS Award in the cathegory of "achievements in the field of Christian culture”. In June 2012 awarded Belgian Order of the Crown.[3] In November 2012, prince Albert II of Monaco awarded Piotr Cywiński the knight class of the Order of Saint-Charles.[4]

Selected publications

  • Kościół wobec integracji europejskiej [co-author], ed. Jan Grosfeld, Warszawa 1997, ISBN 83-85737-27-8.
  • L'Église en Pologne après 1989 face aux nouveaux défis de la démocratie avec Marcin Przeciszewski, Volume 48 de Cahier / le Rayonnement culturel polonais, in Communio : revue catholique internationale, 179, Vol. XXX, 2005
  • Mój Auschwitz [co-author of interview with Władysław Bartoszewski], ZNAK, Kraków 2010, ISBN 978-83-240-1415-6.
  • Guide historique d’Auschwitz [introduction], Jean-Francois Forges, Pierre-Jerome Biscarat, Autrement, Paris 2011, ISBN 978-2-7467-1484-7.
  • Le futur d’Auschwitz. Actes de la journee d’etude du 11 mai 2010 [co-author], IRICE (Sorbone, Paris IV, CNRS et al.), cahier 7: Paris 2011, ISSN 1967-2713.
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Place Where You Are Standing [author of concept and introduction], Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oświęcim 2012, ISBN 978-83-7704-038-6.
  • Epitafium... i inne spisane niepokoje, Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oświęcim 2012, ISBN 978-83-7704-042-3.
  • Auschwitz from A to Z. An Illustrated History of the Camp [co-author], Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oświęcim 2013, ISBN 978-83-7704-069-0.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywiński, Museum Director" (Internet Archive). Museum administrative structure. Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau w Oświęcimiu (Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum). Retrieved 13 November 2013. 
  2. ↑ Nowi członkowie Rady OPWiM (pl.). [access 9 września 2010].
  3. ↑ Director of the Auschwitz Museum awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown
  4. ↑ Order of Saint Charles to Piotr M.A. Cywiński

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