Polcul Foundation

Founded in 1980, Polcul Foundation is a grant-making foundation based in Melbourne, Australia working on democracy & civil society, arts & culture, community development.

Polcul is a foundation founded in 1980 in Australia to support independent, pro-democratic civil society and culture in Poland. Its main activity is awarding cash prizes to individuals who build civil society, tolerance and cooperation, including people in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine. Its work is run by volunteer consultants and a council, with no paid staff. Prizes were originally smuggled into Poland during the communist period to support underground publishers and distributors. The foundation's secretariat is in Melbourne, Australia, and awards are presented in Warsaw.