On November 13th, 2025, the Board of the Jewish Culture Festival Association accepted Janusz Makuch’s resignation from the position of Chairman of the Board and appointed Robert Gądek to this role. Janusz Makuch also decided that, as of January 1st, 2026, he will step down as Director of the Festival, entrusting this function to his current Deputy – Robert Gądek.
Janusz Makuch will remain with the Jewish Culture Festival as the Honorary Chairman of the JCF Association and the Curator of the Festival Program.
Thirty-seven years after the creation of the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, I have decided to stand down as the Director of the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow.
For me, this is a natural course of events, given that the purpose of the Festival lies in its continuity and constant development.
During these 37 years, I have learned a great deal from my mentors, even more from my friends, but most of all from my disciples.
Those who used to be my “disciples”, in the meantime, have become mentors. Thus, there is nothing else left for me to do like to return to school.
I am not going anywhere, though. I am not leaving the Festival.
Just like a father does not abandon his family, so I remain committed to my Festival family circle. As we do make up a family, in which, myself, being “the eldest”, I stand at the festival Gate, providing advice to my younger colleagues on directions which are worth following, but eventually, the final choice is left to them.
Therefore, it is with great pride and joy that I announce that the role of JCF Director shall now be taken on by my long-standing deputy – Mr Robert Gądek.
I would like to thank you all for the years we had together and sincerely ask everyone for their kind support for Director Robert Gądek.
Janusz Makuch
