Acta Politica Polonica

Preventive measures introduced in 2020 in order to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in constraints put on the cultural sector in many parts of the world. Sanitary restrictions have also negatively affected the condition of the cultural sector in Poland. The purpose of this article is an attempt to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the operation of the cultural sector in Poland between March 2020 and the first half of 2021. The topic is important because of the continuity of the pandemic, the need to adapt the rules of the cultural sector to the changed reality, and the need to build a new relationship with the recipient of the cultural offer. The research question is how the cultural sector has adapted to the conditions changed by the COVID-19. The author focused on the impact of restrictions on the functioning of cultural institutions whose activities are financed from the state budget and local government funds. The article provides an overview of initiatives undertaken at the state and local government level. A method of critical analysis of literature was adopted, using the secondary data of the Central Statistical Office concerning cultural activity in Poland, reports of the government agencies, and popular scientific analyses of the impact of the pandemic on the cultural sector. The results show that most cultural institutions were not prepared to function in the difficult conditions changed by the pandemic. Some of them – not without difficulties – have attempted to reach their audiences with their offer through an online message. The measures taken by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sports and by the local governments were aimed at guaranteeing the financial security of the institutions. What is needed, however, is a long‑term policy and reformulation of these institutions to make them more effective and responsive to the changes in the environment.