Dr Mariusz Solarz

Graduate of the Unified MA studies in history at the Pedagogical University in Kraków, graduate of the vocal-acting studies, singing class of dr Janusz Borowicz, first degree studies and graduate of the vocal-acting studies, second degree studies, singing class of dr Ryszard Karczykowski at the Academy of Music in Kraków. Graduate of postgraduate studies in the field of knowledge of society at the Higher School of Pedagogical Sciences in Warsaw. Since 2021, Doctor of Humanities in the field of history, wrote his dissertation on Pastoral work among the population evacuated from the USSR in Polish refugee settlements and East and South Africa, India, Mexico and New Zealand (1942-1952).

Participant and team member of the National Programme for the Development of the Humanities, Creative Scholarship of the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport, Scientific Scholarship of the Brzezie Lanckoroński Foundation, member of the grant headed by Prof. Hubert Chudzio: ‘Generations are leaving. Source accounts of Polish Sybiraks from Great Britain” within the framework of the National Development of Humanities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Member of the Association of University Museums, as well as the Sybiraków Association, Kraków branch. Awarded the Silver Badge for Services to the Sybiraks’ Association, and the Badge of Honour of a Sybiraks.

As a member of the team of the Centre for Documentation of Deportations, Expulsions and Resettlements, he received the team prize of the Minister of Education and Science for achievements in scientific activities, as well as the medal and distinction for an original research team dedicated to the preservation of the tangible and intangible heritage of historical witnesses awarded by the Chapter of the Zygmunt Gloger Prize and Medal. The Centre was also a finalist for the BohaterON 2021: Turn on history award.

TEACHING AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Co-organiser, coordinator and participant of scientific missions such as:

documentation of the Polish church of Masindi and documentation and renovation of the Polish cemeteries of Masindi and Nyamegita in Uganda within the programme of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Sites of National Remembrance Abroad,
renovation of the Kidugala Polish cemetery in Tanzania as part of the programme of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Sites of National Remembrance Abroad, co-organiser of the project “The trail of the escape from Auschwitz of rtm. Witold Pilecki”, carried out in cooperation with the Malopolska Tourist Organisation and the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region and local government units
restoration of the Polish cemetery in Rusape, Zimbabwe 2018-2019, a project implemented by UP, ZHR and IPN, restoration of the Polish necropolis in Rusape, “Twilight of generations – recording the notations of witnesses of history in Małopolska” in cooperation with the Sybiraks Association – Krakow Branch – recording the notations of witnesses of history in Małopolska, documentation of their fate,
“Memory of the Borderlands among the inhabitants of Gliwice” realised by the Pedagogical University in Kraków in cooperation with the Museum in Gliwice – a record of accounts of witnesses to history, documentation of their fates,
“Source accounts of Sybiraks from the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship” in cooperation with the Marshal’s Office in Toruń,”Ochotnica and Tylmanowa – Small Homelands – Big Stories”, organised by the Ochotnica Free Republic Foundation. Conducting educational workshops in the field of “oral history”, recording the source accounts of witnesses to history, documenting their fates
Grant funded by the European Initiative Fund, ‘Polish villages in Romanian Bukovina. Anthropological and historical sketches”, research mission of the UP Institute of History and Archival Studies, “Polish Sybiracy in the USA,”We remember. Witnesses of History and Polish Necropolises in Southern Africa. On the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War”, a project in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, recording the accounts of witnesses to history in Johannesburg, documenting their fate, compiling documentation of Siberian cemeteries in Zambia and Zimbabwe, restoration of the Polish necropolis in Abercorn; an online publication dedicated to Polish Siberian cemeteries in Africa, “Polish Siberians in Canada”, project implemented as part of the 4th Congress of Polish Scientific Societies Abroad organised by the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences; Centre for Documentation of Deportations, Expulsions and Resettlements Inventory of graves, quarters and war cemeteries in the Małopolska region” – implemented by the Pedagogical University of Krakow in cooperation with the Małopolska Voivode in 2008-2016, “Polish Siberians in Africa in 1942-1952”, UP Institute of History, Centre for Documentation of Deportations, Expulsions and Resettlements of UP in collaboration with the Sybiraks Association – Main Board in Warsaw, the Council for the Protection of Memory of Combat and Martyrdom and the Office for War Veterans and Repressed Persons. Veterans and Repressed Persons, 2012, recording accounts of Siberians in Uganda, restoration of a Polish necropolis in Koji on Lake Victoria, production of documentation, organisation of a scientific session “Polish Siberians in Africa in 1942-1952”,
“Polish Sybiracy in Australia”, UP Centre for Documentation of Deportations, Expulsions and Resettlements, recording of accounts of witnesses to history in Perth, documentation of their fate “We remember. Polish cemeteries in East Africa”, , UP Institute of History, in collaboration with the Malopolska Voivodship Office and the City of Krakow, 2009, documentation and restoration of Polish Siberian cemeteries in Tanzania and Uganda, the aftermath of the project was a scientific session entitled “From the frosts of Siberia. As a result of the project, a scientific session entitled “From the Frost of Siberia under the Sun of Africa. On the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Polish Sybiraks in Eastern and Southern Africa”, a thematic exhibition, a documentary film entitled “From the frost of Siberia to the sun of Africa. “They came out of the land of slavery… On the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement” (2010) and a post-conference publication (2012), “Akcja “Wisła” we wspomnieniach ludności Łemkowszczyzny”, project realised by the Pedagogical University in cooperation with the National Cultural Centre in 2007, project manager: Hubert Chudzio, PhD, Funding: NCK. Series of approx. 60 interviews with Lemkos, Author and co-author of the exhibition “Sybir – fixed in the frame, remembered in images. 80th Anniversary of Mass Deportations of Poles”, Kraków 2020, “Polish Scientific Institutions in the World” published in “Polish Intelligence in the World”, ed. Z. Kolenda, H. Chudzio, D. Praszałowicz, Kraków 2018, “Polish Children in Iran in 1942-1945. Consequences of the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement” – in collaboration with the MUW, Kraków, July 2018, “In the Gardens of Isfahan. Poles in Iran during World War II’, in collaboration with the Polish Institute in Paris, April 2018, ‘Africa – the new home. From the snows of Siberia to the sun of Africa. Poles in Africa 1942 – 1952”, prepared by the Polish Embassy in Nairobi in collaboration with the CDZWiP, November 2017, “People from Anders. Life stories”, exhibition accompanying the event “Italy – Poland – Europe”, Krakow, March 2018, “Polish diplomats in Kazakhstan 1941 – 1943” , exhibition prepared in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Astana, opening of the exhibition on 15 June 2015 at the Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan in Astana, “Polish Sybiracy in the World”, exhibition prepared as part of the 4th Congress of Polish Scientific Societies Abroad of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Krakow 2015, “Polish Delegations in Kazakhstan 1940-1942”, prepared as part of the 5th Congress of Polish Scientific Societies Abroad of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Krakow 2017, “Polish Institutions in the World”, as part of the 5th Congress of Polish Scientific Societies Abroad of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Krakow 2017. Co-author of 5 scenarios and exhibitions, which resulted from the grant entitled “Generations are leaving. Source accounts of Polish Sybiraks from Great Britain” in 2012-2016. Author of the study of the war trail map of Józef Kowalski and Jan Folga as part of the temporary exhibition in the Regional Museum in Bachowice, January 2023. Co-author of the exhibition ‘Polish Sybiracy in Australia’, display at the Pedagogical University of Kraków, 2012, and also during the visit of Australian parliamentarians to the Malopolska Voivodship Office in Kraków, exhibition in the Archaeological Museum in Kraków on the fate of Polish Siberians – refugees from the Soviet Union (civilians and soldiers of the Second Polish Corps), as part of the activity of the General W. Anders Museum of the Road to Freedom and CDZWiP UP – cooperation with the Archaeological Museum in Kraków (in progress, planned opening of the exhibition: September 2021), “From Tenger to Rusape. Renovation of Polish cemeteries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Expeditions 2009-2019′, documentary film produced at the CDZWiP UP.

From 2000-2020 a member of the St Mary’s Mixed Choir Association under the direction of Dr Jan Rybarski, fulfilling the duties of soloist, chorister, inspector, assistant conductor, librarian and chronicler. The ensemble has many awards and decorations including: Gold medal of the “750th anniversary of the location of the City of Cracow” for the Mixed Marian Choir on the occasion of the jubilee of the 60th anniversary of the artistic activity of the ensemble – 2010; Bronze Medal Cracoviae Merenti in 2008-. the highest decoration of the Royal City of Cracow; Papal Medal “Pro Ecclesie et Pontifice” for services to church music, 2000. His scientific interests are mainly based on the subject of Polish refugee settlements in East and South Africa, India, New Zealand and Mexico, pastoral activities in Polish refugee settlements, Polish settlements and cemeteries in East and South Africa from 1942-1952; privately, he is interested in Polish composers and musicians of the 19th century, soldier’s song in the Second Corps under the command of General W. Anders, music, mountain and bicycle tourism, as well as widely understood travels.