The decision of Bydgoszcz to start in the competition for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2016 was not accidental. The city owes its strong position on the cultural map of the country not only to dynamically active cultural institutions, but also to its inhabitants that are open to all kinds of art. The foundations of culture in Bydgoszcz are based on: the Ignacy Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic, the Opera Nova and the Hieronim Konieczka Polish Theatre (Teatr Polski).

The concert hall of the philharmonic in Bydgoszcz has been classified in terms of accoustics to be one of the best in Europe, and thus attracts many famous musicians. In Bydgoszcz we have had the opportunity to enjoy performances of: Arthur Rubinstein, Benjamin Britten, Luciano Pavarotti, Shlomo Mintz, Mischa Maisky, Kevin Kenner, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Rafał Blechacz – the 1st prize winner at the 15th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw who is a graduate of Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. The philharmonic is also the organizer of one of the world's most important music festivals that focus on the cultural roots of Europe - Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis. Among the festivals from the elite group we should point out the International Paderewski Piano Competition that in 2010 was invited into the prestigious International Federation of Music Competitions in Geneva.

The second pillar of the cultural life in the city is the Opera Nova. This music theatre, located by a bend of the Brda River, is the organizer of the largest in Poland festival of opera and ballet – the Bydgoszcz Opera Festival. Each year the opera group presents several opera performances abroad. All this makes the Bydgoszcz Opera the most frequently awarded cultural institution in the kujawsko-pomorskie voivodeship.

The strength of the theatre in Bydgoszcz is reflected by the prestigious award “Paszport Polityki” (Passport of Polityka Weekly) granted to its director - Paweł Łysak. The Polish Theatre acquired recognition for creating consistency in the repertoire and the organization of numerous projects accompanying each of the premieres. Moreover, there is great interest among enthusiasts of theatre in periodic events, among them: the Festival of Pre-premieres and the international Reportage Art Festival - Camera Obscura.

An interesting offer is also provided by the BWA Municipal Gallery and the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum with their particularly impressive collections of contemporary art with works by such artists as: Jacek Malczewski, Jerzy Nowosielski, Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, Tadeusz Brzozowski and Jan Cybis. In terms of guest exhibitions we could recently admire in Bydgoszcz works of Rembrandt, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso.

Bydgoszcz is also famous for less formal events such as the Smooth Festival on Mill Island that is a festivity of music that combines jazz, blues, folk and flamenco chill. The “Mózg” club is renowned for promotion of "pure art" deprived of commerciality - a place uniting musicians, performers, painters and photographers from around the world. Also "Eljazz” brings world-class stars to Bydgoszcz. The club is a mecca of blues and jazz lovers.

The city institutions do not rest on their laurels and continually invest in culture. In several months we will have new facilities completed: Mill Island with a museum complex and an amphitheatre, a new Municipal Centre of Culture “Orzeł” ("Eagle"), an open-air museum of industrial architecture "Exploseum", new buildings of the Academy of Music intended for musicians, directors of sound and ballet masters, and the building of the Voivodeship (Regional) Centre of Culture and Art "Stara Ochronka” (“The old nursery") and the unusual museum of pianos combined with a cafe  - Cafe Pianola”.

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