On 17th June, the ceremony of presenting the annual awards of the Zwierciadło monthly was held in the Gardens of Warsaw’s Królikarnia Palace. This year’s laureate of the Crystal Looking Glass is Ms Elżbieta Penderecka in the recognition of her long-term creative participation in Polish and international musical life, and for the effort in the promotion of the music of great masters, including Krzysztof Penderecki. The remaining this year’s awards were presented also to Marek Edelman, Anne Applebaum, and Agnieszka Glińska.

Kryształowe Zwierciadła – Crystal Looking Glasses have been awarded by the editors of the monthly for the last 12 years to the eminent personalities and groups operating within the realm of culture, art, science and public life, for specific traits of their character, achievements, and attitudes. The past laureates of the award include Paweł Althamer, Paulo Coelho, Wojciech Eichelberger, Małgorzata Foremniak, Stefania Grodzieńska, Krystyna Janda, Professor Maria Janion, Kazik, Hanna Krall, Krystian Lupa, Rafał Olbiński, Hanna Polak, Andrzej Seweryn, Wisława Szymborska, Róża Thun, Professor Aleksander Wolszczan, and last year – Władysław Bartoszewski, Marek Koterski, and Ewa Panufnik and Lucyna Wieczorek: the founders of Dojrzewalnia Róż. Since 2005 the awards have been presented to the people of dialogue: ones who put together rather than divide; those who work for the others, initiate actions of civic and social importance, show particular sensitivity to harm done to others, and remain open to being different.