Mielec cultural center mosaic preservation dispute

Renovations at the Samorządowe Centrum Kultury (SCK) in Mielec have sparked a dispute over the preservation of a spatial relief mosaic by Henryk Burzec. Initial concerns were raised by the Polish Association for the Protection of Post-War Architecture, which warned that planned construction work involving the cutting of a doorway through the composition could destroy the unique artwork. The organization requested urgent intervention from conservation authorities to have the mosaic added to the register of monuments.

Following the outcry, the City of Mielec stated its intention to preserve the mosaic in its entirety without altering its structure, claiming that technical solutions are being analyzed to allow the investment to proceed safely. Despite these assurances, activists and journalists, including Jacek Taran, have called for an immediate halt to construction and a redesign of the project to avoid damage.

In a recent development, the municipal office announced that it has initiated procedures to include Henryk Burzec’s mosaic in the register of monuments. This move follows broader discussions regarding the protection of Mielec’s artistic heritage. City Councilor Zdzisław Nowakowski has highlighted the need for immediate care for several other works by Burzec, including outdoor sculptures such as ‘Miotacz’, ‘Biegaczki’, ‘Lot’, ‘Radość życia’, and ‘Tancerka’. The debate has also expanded to include other local monuments, such as the ‘Dedal i Ikar’ piece by Kazimierz Mędrzyński, which has been visually obscured by photovoltaic installations.