In 1962, Picelj initiated a series of his self-published “Edition a” art booklets, having released a total of seven publications up until 1964. Each issue of “Edition a” featured the work of one artist —mostly of a colleague whose work he admired.
In 1962, Picelj initiated a series of his self-published “Edition a” art booklets, having released a total of seven publications up until 1964. Each issue of “Edition a” featured the work of one artist —mostly of a colleague whose work he admired.
Heritage is not merely a story of the past. It is a responsibility for the future — a future we create together through the decisions, values and actions we undertake every day. We believe that each of us has a real impact on the world we will leave to future generations.
„We are not afraid of the future — we are the ones creating it” — said Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and founder of the Obama Foundation.
The brochure “Heritage in Our Hands” is an invitation to discover projects that, thanks to the TOP CHARITY community, OmenaArt Foundation and the Philanthropic Consortium, have been carried out together in the fields of culture, art and the protection of national heritage. It is a story about places, institutions and people who remind us every day that culture builds community, strengthens a sense of identity and helps foster dialogue across generations and borders.
From the historic interiors of the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, whose origins date back to the 17th century, through the Royal Łazienki Museum, the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, Zachęta – National Gallery of Art and the Museum of Warsaw, to projects supporting young artists and the development of international cultural cooperation. All these activities are united by the belief that philanthropy can be a modern form of care for heritage and the future.
Z ogromną wdzięcznością patrzymy dziś na drogę, którą wspólnie przeszliśmy przez ostatnie pięć lat. Dzięki zaangażowaniu ponad 500 filantropów, liderów biznesu, partnerów i przyjaciół TOP CHARITY udało się zgromadzić niemal 150 milionów złotych na cele społeczne.Today, we look back with immense gratitude on the journey we have shared over the past five years. Thanks to the commitment of more than 500 philanthropists, business leaders, partners and friends of TOP CHARITY, we have raised nearly EUR 35.5 million for social causes.
In the fields of culture, art and national heritage alone, we have awarded more than EUR 1.7 million to initiatives supporting cultural institutions, artistic education and the protection of places that are important to our shared identity. In total, the Philanthropic Consortium has already allocated more than EUR 7 million to social and educational projects through its grant programme, which is open to every organisation within the TOP CHARITY community.
Funds raised during previous editions of TOP CHARITY have enabled support for more than 1,200 children and young people in Polish children’s homes, helped provide education for over 7,000 pupils and saved nearly 580 children from slave labour in Ghana. We have also funded scholarships and development programmes for 99 students from Poland at the world’s leading universities.
This initiative was born out of a need for solidarity and collective action shortly after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Today, we know that it has become something far greater: a community of people who believe that kindness, responsibility and cooperation have a real power to change reality.
In business, competition is natural. In philanthropy, we join forces.
We are pleased to present a selection of projects that best demonstrate the scale, diversity and direction of our shared commitment. We hope that this publication will serve not only as a summary of what has been achieved so far, but also as an inspiration to continue building a world rooted in culture, empathy and responsibility towards future generations.
In 2023, OmenaArt Foundation awarded a grant for the revitalisation of 17th-century polychromes and stucco work in the Garden Gallery of the Palace at Wilanów. Conservation work lasted nearly 12 months and was completed in the summer of 2024.
The Gallery, built at the end of the 17th century on the initiative of King Jan III Sobieski, together with Michelangelo Palloni’s polychromes, represents an exceptional artistic heritage in Poland. The paintings focus on the mythological love story of Cupid and Psyche and serve as an allegory of the love and relationship between Jan III Sobieski and Marysieńka.
Due to the open nature of the gallery and its exposure to harmful external environmental conditions, many of these works had suffered serious damage. The conservation project included technological research, documentation and further protection of the decorative elements in the Gallery. A dozen or so experts took part in the work, including specialists in the conservation of sculptural decoration and wall painting, as well as experts in laboratory material testing.
Today, after almost a year of intensive conservation work, visitors can admire Michelangelo Palloni’s frescoes, which had been hidden from public view for 50 years.
Care for cultural heritage also means supporting contemporary art institutions, which are vital to our society. For this reason, OmenaArt Foundation has provided funding for the organisation of exhibitions at, among others, Zachęta – National Gallery of Art, the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko, TRAFO Trafostacja Sztuki in Szczecin and Skala Gallery in Poznań.
In 2023, OmenaArt Foundation financially supported the children’s exhibition “There Will Be No Second Spring… Children and Art in the 20th and 21st Centuries”, as part of which the beneficiaries of Omenaa Foundation took part in a series of artistic workshops led by Joanna Kordjak and architect Maciej Siuda.
In the same year, OmenaArt Foundation became a partner of the 10th Young Triennial: “Consolidation / X Трієнале Молодого Мистецтва: Утривалення” at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko. In 2024, the Foundation was part of Max Cegielski and Janek Simon’s widely discussed exhibition “One Man Does Not Rule a Nation” at TRAFO in Szczecin, which explored the relationship between Poland and Africa in the 1960s.
In 2025, OmenaArt Foundation once again joined forces with Zachęta, financing the creation of the largest work by an African artist in Poland’s history — a more than 200-square-metre installation by Ibrahim Mahama, which partially covered the gallery’s iconic staircase as part of the exhibition “What Do We Dream of Together? Global Connections – Abandoned Friendships”.
The Foundation is currently a partner of “VOICERALS”, an exhibition by Polish-Senegalese artist Maja ∀. Ngom at Skala Gallery in Poznań, open until 31 May 2026.
Since 2025, we have been developing a strategic partnership with the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw, one of Poland’s most important institutions of culture and national heritage.
The partnership focuses on supporting the Museum’s mission as a place where history, education and culture come together. We regard our involvement in this cooperation as an important element of our social and philanthropic responsibility, as well as an expression of care for the preservation and development of a site that symbolises Polish culture and history.
The Castle Museum in Sandomierz is implementing the project Folk Heritage Through Young Eyes, culminating in a temporary exhibition on display until September 2026.
The initiative engages young people from Primary School No. 2 and the School of Economics in Sandomierz, inviting them to actively co-create the museum process.
Under the guidance of museum professionals, participants take on the roles of exhibition curators, collaborating on the concept, preparation of the exhibition and guided tours for visitors.
The project is a unique example of participatory activity within a cultural institution, building intergenerational dialogue and strengthening young people’s interest in the ethnographic heritage of the region.
The Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź is implementing the project Museum Base, whose aim is to support the social, emotional and manual development of children and young people from housing estates neighbouring the museum. The initiative includes a series of educational and animation-based activities, including an inaugural meeting, craft workshops and an integration picnic for children and their guardians.
Participation in the project helps develop artistic and social competences, strengthens a sense of agency and builds neighbourhood and intergenerational relationships.
The project also encourages regular contact with culture and opens the museum to the needs of the local community, thanks to support from the Philanthropic Consortium.
The Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts, in cooperation with the Philanthropic Consortium, is implementing an educational programme accompanying an exhibition devoted to the experience of growing up in the contemporary world.
Through films, installations and workshop activities, the project addresses issues such as mental health, social relationships, cyberbullying, identity crisis and the influence of social media on young people. Invited artists create a space in which teenagers can express their own experiences, build a sense of agency and develop critical thinking and creative communication skills.
The initiative emphasises the role of cultural institutions as places of genuine emotional and social support, open to intergenerational dialogue and to the contemporary challenges faced by the younger generation.
This year, the Philanthropic Consortium is allocating a grant for the revitalisation of the glazing in the Garden Galleries of the Palace at Wilanów. Since the 17th century, these galleries were open to the gardens; however, the existing glazing from the 1960s is outdated and poses a threat to the historic fabric of the museum.
The lack of proper thermal insulation, UV protection and solar-control glass properties causes condensation, dampness, freezing of the structure and degradation of the plaster and paintings. It is necessary to replace the window joinery with modern, fixed glass panes fitted with air inlets, ensuring a stable microclimate and the protection of the historic interior.
The use of a single sheet of glass will allow the new glazing to stylistically reference the former “open” galleries — as King Jan III Sobieski would have seen them. The initiative aims to improve the aesthetics and functionality of this historic space while preserving its heritage character and architectural integrity.
The conservation and modernisation works will help better protect cultural heritage and improve the visitor experience. The cooperation between OmenaArt Foundation and the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów aims not only to provide financial support to the institution, but also to make international art accessible to a wide audience in a unique Baroque setting.
The Society of Friends of Piotrków is implementing a monograph project documenting the organisation’s 60 years of activity and its contribution to the development of cultural and civic life in Piotrków Trybunalski.
The publication honours the work of many generations of social activists who, over the decades, have been involved in protecting local heritage and building the identity of the region. The monograph, currently in preparation, forms part of the tradition of regional historical publications and will serve as a valuable source of knowledge for residents, educators and researchers.
Co-financed by the Philanthropic Consortium, the project highlights the importance of historical memory and social engagement as the foundation of strong local communities.
The Museum of Warsaw is implementing the project Night of Photography, an outdoor artistic event held in the space of Warsaw’s Old Town, combining the city’s historical heritage with contemporary photography.
The initiative presents works by artists from Poland and abroad, creating an open space for dialogue between culture, art and urban history. An important element of the project is a photography competition aimed at young creators, supporting the development of their talents, creativity and artistic competences.
Implemented with the support of the Philanthropic Consortium, the project promotes access to culture and the active participation of the younger generation in the artistic life of the city.
The project involves the staging of an opera performance featuring participants of the Opera Academy of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera. The event will take place during the 2026/2027 artistic season.
The Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera is one of the most important cultural institutions in Poland and the country’s leading opera stage, having co-created the heritage of Polish art for many years. We are honoured to support an institution of such exceptional standing, one that combines the highest artistic standards with an educational mission and the development of future generations of artists.
The Philanthropic Consortium is supporting the activities of the Harfa Choral Society with a grant, recognising its exceptional history and its social, cultural and educational significance.
The choir, active continuously since 1906, plays an important cultural and identity-building role both locally and nationally. It strengthens a sense of community, promotes patriotic values and cultivates the tradition of Polish choral music.
The support will enable the Society to continue its artistic, educational and social activities, increasing access to culture and contributing to the protection of national heritage and the intergenerational transmission of musical tradition.
The cooperation between TOP CHARITY, the Philanthropic Consortium and the Obama Foundation, based on shared values of responsibility, education and genuine social impact, has led to our involvement in a project that is already redefining what a 21st-century public institution can be.
The Philanthropic Consortium has awarded a grant to support the emerging Obama Presidential Center in Chicago — an exceptional project by Barack Obama, created as a space for education, culture, civic dialogue and the inspiration of future generations of leaders.
The Obama Presidential Center will be a modern campus and museum on the South Side of Chicago, where visitors from around the world will be inspired to take action and bring about social change. The complex will include, among other facilities, a museum, a community centre, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, sports and recreational spaces, and publicly accessible outdoor areas, bringing together culture, education and civic engagement.
The initiators of TOP CHARITY, as the first partners from Poland, had the unique opportunity to visit the interiors before the official opening in June 2026 and to highlight the presence of their homeland in this important international project.
This is the first award dedicated exclusively to Ghanaian women artists, established by Gallery 1957 in Accra and London. Named after the queen mother and leader of anti-colonial resistance, the prize connects contemporary art with Ghanaian heritage, strength and female leadership.
The project provides women artists with financial support, mentoring, residencies and the opportunity to present their work in a solo exhibition during the prestigious Accra Culture Week, increasing their visibility, professional development and participation in the international art circuit.
The TOP CHARITY Scholarship powered by Omenaa Foundation is a scholarship for students at SOAS University of London, aimed at candidates for the MA African Studies and MA History of Art and Archaeology programmes, with a particular focus on Africa.
Worth GBP 50,000, the programme covers full international tuition fees and living costs for one student on the above courses. The initiative supports academic development and research into African culture, art history and heritage, strengthening the global presence of African narratives in academia, museums and cultural institutions.
Although the scholarship will be open to all students, together with SOAS we encourage candidates from the African continent to apply, thereby creating additional value by promoting equal access to education at the highest level.
The MICAS International Symposium is a two-day international research event devoted to the relationship between architecture, heritage, contemporary art and the role of cultural institutions in the context of small states.
The project brings together leading academics, architects and curators, creating a platform for the exchange of knowledge and strengthening MICAS’s position as an important centre for reflection on contemporary museology. The initiative contributes to the development of the local and international cultural environment, supports public dialogue and builds long-term relationships between institutions and audiences.
The Ghanaian Artist Residency Programme is the first residency for a Ghanaian artist at London’s Studio Voltaire, one of the United Kingdom’s leading arts and education organisations.
The programme enables the selected artist to undertake a fully funded three-month residency in an international artistic environment, providing a studio, mentoring, curatorial support and professional development. The project builds cultural dialogue between Ghana and the United Kingdom, increasing the visibility of contemporary Ghanaian art on the global stage.
The ARCHIVE Lab project, funded by the Philanthropic Consortium, supports culture, art and national heritage through the preservation and sharing of Ghana’s historical memory.
At the Si Hene Center of Culture in Accra, an innovative space is being created for the digitisation of photographs, documents and oral histories. The archive will take the form of a multilingual platform. Moreover, as part of the project, Si Hene plans to run a training programme for young archivists.
The project brings together local communities, artists, researchers and the diaspora, transforming archives into a living resource for education, creativity and international cooperation in the preservation of Ghana’s heritage.
ArtVantage Youth Edition is an eight-month programme developing artistic and professional competences among young creators in Ghana. Implemented by the Kuenyehia Trust for Contemporary Art, its aim is to bridge the gap in access to structured career pathways in the arts sector.
The initiative combines workshops, mentoring and the development of creative, entrepreneurial and digital skills, while strengthening participants’ rootedness in local cultural heritage. The project supports young artists in their development, helps them build networks and professionalises their practice, contributing to the strengthening of Ghana’s contemporary art ecosystem.
The TOP CHARITY initiative, together with OmenaArt Foundation and the Philanthropic Consortium, supports culture in its broadest sense — both through activities benefitting the most important institutions, sites and artefacts of fundamental importance to Poland’s national heritage, and through projects that open up new spaces for contemporary art.
For this reason, the initiatives we support include activities connected with such important institutions as the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, Zachęta and the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera. Care for memory, art and the heritage of future generations is one of the key pillars of our work.
At the same time, projects aimed at young artists and creators from regions and communities that still have limited access to international institutions, networks, funding and visibility are of particular importance to us. That is why initiatives such as ArtVantage Youth Edition, the Ghanaian Artist Residency Programme at Studio Voltaire and the Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize serve as genuine mechanisms for equalising opportunities and opening the art world to new voices.
This diversity is a source of pride for us and a conscious direction for the years ahead.
Thank you for your attention.
The Founders and Community of TOP CHARITY
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