Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności

What Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności does

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności (IDS) is a state cultural institution (instytut kultury) headquartered at Targ Drzewny 8 in Gdańsk, Poland, co-founded on 31 August 2019 by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) and the NSZZ Solidarność trade union. Its mission is to preserve, research, and popularize the history and heritage of the Solidarity movement and Poland's democratic transformation from 1956 to the present. The Institute is led by director Mateusz Smolana (acting since 4 September 2019), supported by a 21-member Rada Instytutu (Council) drawn from both founding organizations, historians, and public figures, and a small core staff of approximately 5 employees.

The Institute's core products comprise physical and online exhibitions on topics including Solidarity's clergy, Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, the August 1980 agreements, and martial law; the '45 minut Solidarności' educational program delivering interactive history lessons directly to Polish upper-secondary schools; historical walking tours ('Śladami narodzin Solidarności') at the Gdańsk Shipyard site; a publications program producing scholarly books, exhibition catalogs, and audiobooks; a podcast series on Spotify; radio programs; and a photographic archive. All publications are available free of charge as PDF and EPUB downloads, with physical copies mailed on request. The digital platform is built on WordPress with integrations to Spotify, YouTube, and standard newsletter/email channels; there is no proprietary technology stack.

The Institute operates a non-commercial model: it is funded through the Polish state budget via MKiDN and receives no direct revenue from its products or services. Its go-to-market is community-led, anchored on direct outreach to schools (listed on the Kuratorium Oświaty w Gdańsku portal), traveling exhibitions deployed in churches and cultural venues across Polish cities, and digital distribution for global reach. End-user audiences are Polish secondary school students and teachers, general public and church communities attending exhibitions, and academic researchers engaging through publications and the Nagroda Historyczna IDS master's thesis competition. Strategic partners include the IPN (Instytut Pamięci Narodowej), Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa, Muzeum Sali BHP, and multiple Polish universities providing honorary patronage for academic programming.

Name

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności

Legal name

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności

Website

https://ids1980.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności is a Gdańsk-based state cultural institution, co-founded in 2019 by Poland's Ministry of Culture and NSZZ Solidarność to preserve and educate about the Solidarity movement through free exhibitions, school programs, scholarly publications, and historical tours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage & Historical Education Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Historical education programs
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Exhibition services
• Scholarly publishing
• Walking tour services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gdańsk

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget and Public Institution Funding: As a state cultural institution co-founded by the Minister of Culture and Dziedzictwa Narodowego (MKiDN) and NSZZ Solidarność, the Institute operates primarily through public funding. Revenue is derived from government budget allocations, ministerial grants, and institutional subsidies for the execution of statutory activities (educational programs, exhibitions, publications, research). No commercial revenue model is described.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności is a state cultural institution that preserves, researches, and popularizes the history and heritage of the Solidarity movement. Its core offerings comprise traveling and online historical exhibitions, school-based educational programs (notably '45 minut Solidarności'), historical walking tours at the Gdańsk Shipyard, and a free scholarly and popular publication program distributed as PDF/EPUB downloads, podcasts, and radio programs.

Product overview

Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności operates as a cultural heritage institution that promotes the history and ideals of the Solidarity movement. The core offering consists of physical and online exhibitions documenting Solidarity's history, supplemented by educational programs including '45 minut Solidarności' lessons and historical walking tours 'Śladami narodzin Solidarności' through the Gdańsk shipyard. The institution maintains an extensive publications program producing scientific works, exhibition catalogs, and audiobooks available as free digital downloads. Additional offerings include podcast content on Spotify, radio programs, and photo archives. The institute also provides honorary patronage for related cultural and educational events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions (Wystawy) Traveling and online historical exhibitions documenting Solidarity movement history, the Catholic Church's involvement (e.g., 'Księża Solidarności', 'Błogosławiony ks. Jerzy Popiełuszko'), national workers' pilgrimages, and key Solidarity figures. Hosted at churches, cultural centers, and public spaces in cities such as Gdańsk, Bogatynia, Bolesławiec, Elbląg, Włocławek, and Jasna Góra; also accessible online globally.
• 45 minut Solidarności (45 Minutes of Solidarity) Interactive history lessons delivered directly in Polish upper-secondary schools (liceum, technikum), combining theoretical presentations about the origins of Solidarity with workshop sessions where students analyze historical events from multiple perspectives. Free of charge and officially listed by the Kuratorium Oświaty w Gdańsku.
• Śladami narodzin Solidarności (Historical Walking Tours) Guided historical walking tours through the Gdańsk Shipyard area, covering the birthplace of NSZZ Solidarność and Solidarity Square with the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers. Sessions conclude at Sala BHP. Maximum 30 participants per group; booked via the Institute's secretariat.
• Educational Workshops (Warsztaty edukacyjne) Workshop programs for schools covering topics such as 'Historia dotyczy zwykłych ludzi' (about December 1970 events), human rights in the August 1980 MKS demands, and analysis of underground press and samizdat publications.
• Publications (Books, Catalogs, Albums, Audiobooks) Scientific, popular-science books, exhibition catalogs, audiobooks, and staff publications documenting Solidarity history. Available as free PDF and EPUB downloads from ids1980.pl; physical copies mailed free of charge upon request. English-language versions of academic, popular-science, and catalog publications are also available.
• #PODCASTY (Podcast Series) Audio podcast content covering Solidarity-related topics and historical discussions, distributed via Spotify (and promoted on the Institute's social channels). Targets audiences interested in Polish contemporary history.
• Radio Programs (Audycje radiowe) Radio broadcasts related to Solidarity history and the Institute's activities, distributed via radio broadcast and online platforms, targeting general audiences interested in Polish contemporary history.
• Nagroda Historyczna IDS (IDS Historical Prize Competition)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Prezes Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The President of IPN granted honorary patronage to the II edition of the Nagroda Historyczna IDS (2026), recognizing the competition as a valuable contribution to historical scholarship.
• Śląskie Centrum Wolności oraz Solidarności (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS competition's second edition in 2026.
• Radio Gdańsk (media patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Radio Gdańsk provided media patronage for the Nagroda Historyczna IDS competition in 2026, promoting the competition to its audience in the Pomorze region.
• Muzeum Sali BHPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Sala BHP (a historic room within the Gdańsk Shipyard, the birthplace of Solidarity) is the venue for many of the Institute's exhibitions, events, and educational sessions. The Institute maintains a close operational relationship with the Sala BHP Museum, which shares its mission of preserving the heritage of the August 1980 agreements.
• Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Wydział Historyczny (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The Dean of the Faculty of History at Jagiellonian University granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Uniwersytet Szczeciński (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The University of Szczecin granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Centrum Historii Zajezdnia (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Centrum Historii Zajezdnia granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KUL (Catholic University of Lublin) granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Centrum Solidarności Stocznia w Szczecinie (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Centrum Solidarności Stocznia in Szczecin granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Instytut Historyczny Nurtu Niepodległościowego im. Andrzeja Ostoja Owsianego (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Fundacja im. ks. Jerzego Popiełuszki 'Dobro' (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Wydział Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych Akademii Marynarki Wojennej (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Wydział Nauk Historycznych Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Fundacja Polskich Wartości (honorary patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Granted honorary patronage to the Nagroda Historyczna IDS 2026 competition.
• Narodowy Instytut DziedzictwacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Institute co-published the book 'Jak działała Stocznia Gdańska' with Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa (National Heritage Board) at the end of 2022. This joint publication effort demonstrated inter-institutional collaboration in documenting and preserving industrial heritage.
• Instytut Pamięci Narodowej – współorganizator konferencji naukowej (co-organizer)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Institute co-organized the scientific conference 'Stan wojenny po 40 latach. Nowe spojrzenie' (Martial Law After 40 Years: A New Perspective) with IPN's Bydgoszcz delegation in December 2021.
• Minister Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego (MKiDN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2019The Institute was co-founded on August 31, 2019 by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) and NSZZ Solidarność. The formal agreement was signed by Deputy Minister Jarosław Sellin (MKiDN) and NSZZ Solidarność Chairman Piotr Duda, in the presence of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The Minister provides ongoing institutional oversight and funding through the state budget.
• NSZZ Solidarność (Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy Solidarność)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2019NSZZ Solidarność is the co-founding partner of the Institute. The union provides institutional continuity, archival materials, and community connections to the Solidarity movement's history. The Institute's mission explicitly references preserving the heritage of NSZZ Solidarność as a core objective.
• Kuratorium Oświaty w GdańskucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kuratorium Oświaty w Gdańsku (Education Superintendent's Office in Gdańsk) has incorporated the Institute's '45 minut Solidarności' educational program into its official list of educational programs and projects for schools. This endorsement provides institutional legitimacy and broad distribution within the regional school network.
• Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute collaborates with IPN on educational and exhibition projects. Dr. Jan Hlebowicz of IPN Oddział w Gdańsku authored the 'Zbuntowana generacja' exhibition and catalog. IPN provides research support, archival access, and scholarly expertise on Poland's 20th-century history. The Institute's deputy director Dr. Piotr Brzeziński is a historian of contemporary Poland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA: Independent NGO in Warsaw dedicated to documenting recent Polish history through oral history, archives, and publications. Comparable to IDS in its publication-driven approach to preserving independent civic history, though operating as a civic foundation rather than a state institution.
• Dom Spotkań z Historią (House of Meeting with History): Warsaw-based cultural institution producing exhibitions, educational programs, and publications on 20th-century Polish history. Directly comparable to IDS in programmatic focus (exhibitions + education + publications on contemporary Polish history), though smaller and located in Warsaw.
• Muzeum Józefa Piłsudskiego w Sulejówku: State-funded biographical museum combining historic site interpretation, educational programs, and publication activity. Comparable to IDS as a state cultural institution using exhibitions, school outreach, and publications to preserve and interpret modern Polish history for public audiences.

Direct peers

• Muzeum Sali BHP: Historic Shipyard hall where the August 1980 agreements were signed, now operating as a museum and event venue. IDS stages many of its exhibitions and walking tours at this site, making it both a partner and a directly comparable heritage interpretation peer.
• Europejskie Centrum Solidarności (European Solidarity Centre): Located in Gdańsk adjacent to the historic Shipyard, the European Solidarity Centre is the flagship museum and cultural institution devoted to the history of Solidarity and opposition to communism. Most comparable institution to IDS in mission, location, and visitor audience.

Broad incumbents

• Muzeum Historii Polski (Polish History Museum): State-funded national museum in Warsaw presenting a comprehensive narrative of Polish history. Operates a much larger exhibition, education, and publication program than IDS but shares the same ministry oversight and core function of historical interpretation for the public.
• Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN): National Institute of Remembrance is the larger state research and archival institution with a much broader mandate covering the entire period of communist and post-war repression. Co-publishes and grants honorary patronage to IDS, and is structurally comparable as a state-funded heritage institution.
• Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego (Warsaw Uprising Museum): Large Warsaw-based state museum using immersive exhibitions, education, and digital publishing to interpret a 20th-century historical event. Compares to IDS as a peer in the museum/heritage education category, though focused on the 1944 Warsaw Uprising rather than Solidarity.

Regional players

• Śląskie Centrum Wolności i Solidarności: Regional heritage center in Katowice dedicated to the history of the Silesian opposition and Solidarity movement. Comparable to IDS in scope and educational mission, but limited to the Silesian voivodeship; also an IDS Historical Prize honorary patron.
• Centrum Solidarności Stocznia w Szczecinie: Regional Solidarity heritage center in Szczecin, also granted honorary patronage to the IDS Historical Prize. Directly comparable in mission to IDS but focused on the Szczecin Shipyard and Western Pomeranian regional perspective of the Solidarity movement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ids1980pl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCi_Q2CbYMNdakfhTR-txPNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ids1980pl
• Instagraminstagram.com/ids1980pl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ids1980pl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Instytut Dziedzictwa Solidarności