Wileńska Rozgłośnia Radiowa oraz Środy literackie - żywe ośrodki kulturalne międzywojennego Wilna

Abstract

The local press, including “Kurier Wileński”, which belonged to the group of three biggest newspapers shaping the public opinion in Vilnius, played a significant role in propagating the cultural development of the Vilnius environment during the twenty years of the interwar period. In its columns, we find the echoes of all of the most important artistic and cultural events, as well as the fears and anxieties tormenting the Vilnius community in those restless times of constant struggle to keep Polish Vilnius. The most active cultural centres in Vilnius after 1927 included: the Vilnius Radio Station, and the Literary Wednesdays. Both of those institutions focused majority of the cultural initiatives in Vilnius. They were among the most culture-generating and attractive institutions in Vilnius. In 1927, Vilnius Branch of the Polish Radio was created under the management of Zygmunt Chamiec, and under the program supervision of Witold Hulewicz, one of the greatest personalities in the interwar Vilnius. In its programme assumptions, the Vilnius station was meant to be the liaison, the centre of understanding for all nationalities of the former Lithuanian Principality. The interwar twenty years were the time of re-creation of the network of cultural and academic associations, and cultural agencies. Following the example of the large centres, such as Warsaw and Krakow, Vilnius desired to become a cultural hub concentrating people of letters, art, and culture. In 1925, the Polish Writers Trade Union was established. However, the actual cultural focus of Vilnius since 1927 was the literary club called “Literary Wednesdays”. “Kurier Wileński” accompanied Literary Wednesdays throughout its existence, from 1927 till September 1939, encouraging readers to participate in the cultural life of Vilnius. Vilnius, the last bastion of the Polish culture in the east, in spite of its separation from the rest of the country, continued to be an active cultural centre vibrant with energy and eagerness to act.