Wojciech „Baca” Hawryszuk
The Man Who Brought Culture to Life
A legend of student culture, a visionary, organizer, and creator who helped shape the artistic scene of Szczecin and the entire academic world.
Ideas That Never Ran Out
Some people carry within them an invisible spark—one that allows them to change the world around them.
Wojciech “Baca” Hawryszuk was one of them.
He had thousands of ideas, and even more energy to bring them to life.
He was the one who made student clubs come alive and transformed festivals into major cultural events.
He was the one who brought people together—creators, musicians, artists, students, and all those who simply wanted to be part of something greater.
People used to say he never sat still—he was always organizing, planning, making things happen.
Because to him, culture wasn’t just entertainment.
It was a mission.
Student Culture Was His Life
Szczecin knew him well. For years, he co-created legendary places and events that still live on in the memories of those lucky enough to experience them.
🎭 “Pinokio” Student Club – a place that became the heart of academic life.
🎙️ Academic Radio Pomorze – a space where young people learned how to speak into a microphone and inspire others.
🎶 FAMA in Świnoujście – a festival that gained new brilliance thanks to him.
But that was only the beginning.
On his initiative, events such as Baltic Blues, Garaż, New Jazz Conversation, Port Reggae, Gwiazdy Morza, Fish Market, Fish Academy were born—each with its own story, emotions, and people united by a shared passion.
He didn’t just organize. He created, wrote, released albums, and inspired artists.
He was an editor for the works of Jacek Kleyff and Jan Wołek, co-created musical monographs and projects that became the foundation of student culture.
“Baca” wasn’t just a name or a nickname. It was a mark of quality. If “Baca” was behind something—you knew you had to be there.
The kind of man you couldn’t help but like
He lived for people. He respected anyone with passion and a vision for life. He was open, honest, and uncompromising in his integrity. At times wild in ideas, but never in execution. Everyone who knew him said the same thing: “Baca was the kind of person who never said ‘it can’t be done’ – he just did it.” He wasn’t someone you could capture in a single sentence. He didn’t fit into boxes. He was someone who left a mark that can never be erased.
The Last Chapter He Wrote for Us
On September 11, 2020, the world of student culture lost one of its most important figures. He left—but he never disappeared. Four years after his passing, in 2024, a mural commemorating him was unveiled in Szczecin. The artwork, created by Dawid Czajkowski, is located in the “Gallery under the Castle Route”—a place chosen with intention. It was there, by the Oder River, that many of his ideas were born—ideas that still live on in Szczecin’s cultural scene.
📽️ To learn more about this remarkable figure, watch the documentary:
A Legend That Still Inspires
Students come and go. Festivals shine for a moment, then make way for new ones. But some people remain forever. Wojciech “Baca” Hawryszuk was one of them. His name doesn’t need the words “in memory of” — because everyone who met him, even once, still carries his story within them.
And it will always be that way.