The Artistic Committee of the 30th FESTIVAL OF THE CHILDREN OF MOUNTAINS

An ethnologist and culture researcher, one of the foremost instructors of folk ensembles in Podhale, a highly committed cultural life animator. She took a graduate degree in ethnological studies at the University of Silesia (the Cieszyn Branch), and a post-graduate degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Warsaw.  In 2018 she defended her Ph.D. dissertation in ethnomusicology at the Institute of Art at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. In 2000-2004 she acted as the head of the Community Centre in Poronin. She is also a councillor for the town of Rabka-Zdrój, where she holds the position of the chairwoman of the Culture Committee, as well as the chairwoman of the Museum Board of Władysław Orkan Museum in Rabka-Zdrój. In 2005 she established the Association of Folk Culture Lovers, and MAJERANKI Children's Folk Ensemble in Rabka-Zdrój. She is an expert affiliated with the Polish section of CIOFF, a member of the Programme Board of the National Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw, and the Scientific Board of the Podhale Inhabitants’ Association in Poland. Besides, she acts as a jury member in numerous folk festivals and contests. Member of the CIOFF Traditional Culture Commission.

Dr Tomasz Nowak, a musicologist, anthropologist and dance instructor with a habilitation degree in arts. An assistant professor and head of the Department of Systematic and Cultural Musicology at the Institute of Musicology of Warsaw University. He also teaches dance as an adjunct professor at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. He is an author of several books and more than eighty academic articles on, inter alia, traditional music and dance performed by communities inhabiting Poland and the neighbouring countries. Dr Nowak is a laureate of the CLIO Award, Rev. Prof. Hieronim Feicht Award, as well as the Award for the best written work on the history of Polish music.

An assistant professor at the Institute of Ethnology, Folklore Research, and Ethnography Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; an ethnochoreographer at the Department of Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology. An author of more than 50 articles published in scientific journals. In her research she mainly focuses on dance music and folklore, contemporary folk events, and folklore in the Balkans. She is a choreographer and artistic director for dance ensembles in Sofia, a member of the Expert Board for Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, of the Choreographers Association in Bulgaria, and of the Bulgarian Section of CIOFF.

A graduate in ethnography at the Jagiellonian University. Since 1976 he has been professionally involved with the Provincial Culture Centre - currently SOKÓŁ Małopolska Culture Centre in Nowy Sącz - where he has been employed as the chief folklore specialist. He has originated many folk festivals and contests. In 1979 it was on his initiative that the Department of Folklore and Folk Arts was established; he served as its manager for 24 years. He acts as a juror and consultant for major contests, festivals and competitions, both local, all-Poland and international ones. In 1988-1993 he was a member of the Board of Experts at the Ministry of Culture and Arts. He is a member-founder of the Polish Section of CIOFF, and a member of the CIOFF Programme & Arts Board. In the 1980s he was also a member of the Artistic Board of the “Folk Stage” at the National Management of the Association of Rural Youth. He gives lectures at seminars, conferences and training sessions in folklore, organized by SOKÓŁ Małopolska Culture Centre, and other domestic institutions. Currently, he serves as a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Team at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

After working in various units of the the Ministry of Culture and Tourism  for 17 years, he worked for 13 years in the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and retired after 30 years of government duty in 2002. Rüştü AKAR took part in the promotion of his country's folk dances, folk music and Turkish cuisine for many years and achieved success. He established Anatolian Folklore Foundation in Ankara in 1981 and he is one of the founders and has been continue as the general chairman of the Anatolian Folklore Foundation for 41 years and still continues this duty. He contributed to the training of approximately 9600 dancers in the field of folk dances. He is a jury member of many national and international folk dances events.

An ethnologist and choreographer. A graduate from the Jagiellonian University (majors in geography, ethnology and cultural anthropology; a school pedagogical studies) and a two-year programme of dance studies (specialisation in folk dance) organised by the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre. A student of a doctoral course of studies at the University of Silesia (the School of Doctoral Studies). A member of the Polish Ethnological Society (the Cracow branch). An expert affiliated with the Polish section of CIOFF, a vice-chairman of the commission of traditional culture at the Polish Section of CIOFF.

A lecturer at courses for folk dance instructors, training sessions and workshops for folk ensembles in Poland and abroad.

The artistic director of the Mystkowianie and Mali Mystkowianie folk ensembles. The owner of the “Szafa ETNOgrafa” enterprise specialising in reconstruction of folk costume.

Patryk Rutkowski has been decorated with an Honourable Badge for “Meritorious Service for Polish Culture,” the Małopolska Province Medal “Polonia Minor” and the Sącz Silver Apple awarded by the Nowy Sącz Starost.