For this year's edition of MENT Polska, a series of exciting activities has been prepared. Be sure to check out the Polish artists performing in Ljubljana. Hania Derej will present her music – created with talent and sensitivity, combining contemporary jazz with neoclassical sounds. Julek Płoski will enchant the audience with an unusual, yet highly appreciated collage of sounds – from experimental to cinematic, from rave to piano. Fans of more organic, rooted sounds inspired by world music, but with modern accents (jazz, electronica) should check out Suferi. Don't miss the dance party by Hermeneia – DJ and bass music master. (Detailed schedule below).
Polish delegates will also be present and active in the MENT conference program. Tamara Kamińska (Director of Culture Hub Poland, CEO of Music Week Poland) will participate in the panel "From Creative Europe to AgoraEU: EU Funding Perspectives for the Music Sector" – a discussion about the role of the music sector and music projects within the upcoming AgoraEU program, a new European funding mechanism supporting the cultural, media, and creative industries sector. Anna Pyzińska (Ekipa Music Entertainment) will moderate the panel "Coexistence of Streaming and Direct-to-Fan Platforms: Building Sustainable Careers for Artists," posing an important question: can artists effectively combine streaming as a tool for visibility and discovery with direct-to-fan platforms?
Culture Hub Poland, in collaboration with MENT, will also organize a speed networking session. This is a great opportunity to connect with key representatives of the Polish music scene – from promoters and booking agents to label representatives and managers. Please note: the event is available by prior registration only (RSVP), so it is worth checking the availability of places.
Culture Hub Poland also invites you to a reception in the majestic and atmospheric interiors of Ljubljana Castle. This is a great opportunity to collaborate and learn more about the Polish music industry and its international ambitions.
Thursday, February 19, 23:50 PM
Channel Zero
Friday, February 20, 19:30 PM
Ljubljana Castle, Rock Hall
Friday, February 20, 20:30 PM
Ljubljana Castle, Rock Hall
Friday, February 20, 00:30 (after midnight)
Channel Zero
Thursday, February 19, 10:00 PM
M Hotel, Gavioli
participants:
Friday, February 20, 18:00 PM
Ljubljana Castle, Upper Lapidarium
Friday, February 20, 12:00 PM
M Hotel, Hound Dog
Speakers:
Moderator:
Friday, February 20, 15:00 PM
M Hotel, Hound Dog
Speakers:
Moderator:
A DJ, curator, and cultural entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the creative industries, she performs under the guise of Virtual Geisha, focusing on eclectic, vinyl-based storytelling, reinventing '90s and 2000s electronica and introducing it to new audiences in Poland and abroad.
Since 2022, she has been running VG DJ LAB – an educational platform for DJs combining artistic development, innovative teaching methods, and content creation. In 2025, she launched DJ LAB PRO – an international mentoring and showcase program for emerging DJs from Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Balkans, financed by a €40,000 LIVEMX grant. The project includes an open call, a bootcamp with industry experts, mentoring, and a showcase at the Carbon Silesia Festival.
Joanna is also the founder of Maiko Agency, an independent events agency dedicated to electronic music and innovative cultural projects. She has curated and programmed stages at leading Polish festivals, including Carbon Silesia Festival (Fresh Faces Stage, Carbon Academy) and Wisłoujście Festival (slots for emerging artists). In 2023, she was recognized by HEM as one of the top 10 startups in Europe offering innovative solutions for the music sector.
On September 21, 2024, she released her debut song on the Spanish label Femnoise, developing her artistic activity on an international level.
Edyta Rogowska-Żak is a Polish artist, educator, and cultural manager based in Berlin. She holds a degree in sociology from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University and has a musical background, studying piano and music theory from an early age.
She directs the musical project Duxius, fusing theater and music into immersive performances. Her debut album, "Remanence" (2022), combines lyrics in Polish, English, and German, drawing from various genres and retro influences. As an artist, she redefines the concept of power from a non-male perspective, creating a genre she calls Polish Future Retro, focused on emotional and social awareness.
She was recognized by Music Export Poland for her career development strategy and consistently expands her international activities, regularly releasing new tracks, including her latest single, "In Her Kitchen." Duxius performed at Waves Vienna in September 2024 and is preparing to release a new EP.
Edyta also leads the "Free Voice – Free Mind" workshop, a transformative experience focused on voice, body, and mental well-being, inspired by the methods of Kristin Linklater and Roy Hart. The workshop emphasizes breathing, vocal resonance, and stress reduction, supporting participants' personal growth.
In addition, he manages and produces the ROXSA Festival in Bad Sülze, a cultural event that revitalizes the city through music, art, and community engagement. He works closely with the local community to foster a multicultural and empowered identity and promote democracy, communication, and creativity.
A manager and booking agent from Gdańsk, he currently works with Szymon Mika, Jamie Baum, and Disco Fever. In 2023, Mikołaj graduated from the Academy of Music Managers in Warsaw.
In recent years, he has participated in festivals such as Bout It 2025, Sea You 2024/2025, Jazzahead 2025, Great September 2024 and Music Startup, successfully developing his booking business and expanding his network of professional contacts.
Anna has over 20 years of experience in the music industry. She specializes in digital distribution, streaming, social media marketing, and comprehensive A&R development. She has been responsible for talent scouting, contract negotiations, and supporting artists through the creative process and long-term strategy development.
Previously associated with Universal Music Poland and Agora Muzyka, she currently supports creators and emerging artists in building visibility, strategy and sustainable career development.
Natalia Koralewska is a co-founder of the Palma Foundation, a cultural organization based in Gdańsk (Wrzeszcz). She works as a cultural producer and curator, organizing and implementing cultural events with a particular emphasis on music, listening practices, and site-specific concert formats.
She co-organized a series of concerts held in hidden and unobvious spaces in Gdańsk, including the project "Nowe idzie od morza do Wrzeszcz" (New Goes from the Sea to Wrzeszcz), as well as the "Concerts by Wróbel Pond" series. She also co-curates the "At Noon" concert series, held at 12:00, dedicated to mindful, conscious listening and creating spaces for focused musical experience.
She was responsible for the musical programming of cultural events such as "Vilnius in Gdańsk" and "Gdańsk in Vilnius," developing concert concepts and selecting artists in dialogue with the context of each event. She also curated a concert series at the Forest Theatre in Gdańsk (Wrzeszcz), collaborating with both established and emerging artists.
In his projects, he collaborates with artists and bands representing a wide spectrum of musical genres and artistic philosophies, often exploring the relationship between sound, place and audience.
CEO and A&R of several Polish independent vinyl labels, including the electronic-focused U Know Me Records (over 90 vinyl releases in the catalog), the organic Funky Mamas and Papas Recordings (20 vinyl releases), and the hip-hop JuNouMi Records (40 vinyl releases) and others.
A vinyl-only DJ, promoter, and former manager, and above all, a music digger. Active in the music industry since 1999 (beginning as a hip-hop promoter), he released his first vinyl release in 2002. He is currently working on a new publishing project, U JAZZ ME (eight vinyl releases to date).
She has been actively involved in the cultural sector and creative industries for over 15 years. As program director of one of Poland's most important cultural institutions, she was responsible for the preparation and production of key musical events, including the international WOMEX 2017 festival. She authored Katowice's winning application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was responsible for implementing the comprehensive "Katowice – City of Music" program.
Since 2018, she has served on the Management Committee of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), co-shaping the development of the global network of creative cities. Currently, she is the Director of Culture Hub Poland, CEO of Music Week Poland, advisor to the Management Board of the ZAiKS Association of Authors, and coordinator of the international network European Music Exporters Exchange.
As an independent consultant for the development of creative industries, she works with numerous cities around the world, supporting them in building cultural and music strategies and developing projects with an international reach.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music (Global Entertainment and Music Business) and the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (specializing in piano chamber music), she completed the international KeyChange Talent Leadership Programme and was a scholarship recipient from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as part of the "Young Poland" programme.
She has professional experience both in Poland and abroad. She worked as an artist manager, collaborating with leading Polish artists, and then joined Warner Music, where she served as product manager for projects in the Southeastern European region. She also implemented strategic projects related to the Middle East music market. She is the recipient of an international award for the best marketing campaign in the music industry, awarded by experts in Los Angeles.
She was raised in a classical music environment – from the age of 16 she was associated with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and also served as coordinator of the piano category at the 1st International Karol Szymanowski Music Competition.
Born and raised in Warsaw, he has been involved in the music scene and industry for over 25 years. Before devoting himself fully to music, he worked as a film translator and media expert at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw.
For 23 years, his main occupation has been writing about culture for Poland's largest daily newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza. He has also collaborated with numerous other media outlets, including Gazeta Magnetofonowa, Jazz Forum, Onet, ZAiKS Wiadomości, Polityka, the literary portal Lubimy Czytać, K-Mag, Viva Moda, Die Tageszeitung, and Aktivist.
In addition to his journalistic work, Łukasz regularly participates in panel discussions as a moderator and expert. He has collaborated with the Malta Festival, Planete+ Doc Film Festival, NEXT Fest, Great September, Avant Art, and Unsound. He is also co-author of the alternative city guide "Do It in Warsaw." He has been associated with Music Week Poland and Culture Hub Poland since 2024.