Justyna Cwojdzińska is a theatre maker, arts manager, cultural facilitator with over 20 years’ experience in festival leadership, community arts, intercultural collaboration and multidisciplinary performance. She is the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of the Polish Arts Festival (PAF), established in 2007 to celebrate and support contemporary Polish artists living and creating in Ireland. Under her leadership, PAF has grown into a multidisciplinary platform for artistic collaboration, experimentation and connection, bringing together artists, audiences and partners across Ireland and Poland.
Since making Limerick her home in 2005, Justyna has developed and led ambitious artistic programmes that champion multilingualism, cultural diversity and international exchange. Her work spans theatre, participatory arts, festivals and socially engaged practice, creating opportunities for artists to develop new work while strengthening connections between communities through creativity and dialogue.
Alongside her work with PAF, Justyna has built long-standing partnerships with local authorities, cultural organisations, educational institutions and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin, positioning the festival as an important platform for Polish-Irish artistic collaboration. She has secured significant public investment for artistic commissions, community engagement and cross-cultural initiatives, supporting both emerging and established artists.
Justyna’s artistic practice explores identity, belonging, migration and participation, often combining theatre, movement, visual arts and community collaboration. She is particularly interested in creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices can shape new artistic experiences and where culture becomes a catalyst for dialogue and social connection.
Her contribution to promoting Polish culture internationally has been recognised with an award from the Polish Promotional Emblem Foundation “Teraz Polska”, under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland. She has also received numerous bursaries and awards supporting artistic development and community-led cultural practice.
Beyond her artistic work, Justyna is a former Chairperson of the Irish Polish Cultural & Business Association, serves on the Board of The Hunt Museum, and Forum Polonia.
At the heart of the festival is the dedicated team she has brought together over the years—artists, producers, facilitators and cultural professionals whose shared vision, creativity and commitment continue to drive PAF’s growth and impact.