Home 
One would be hard-pressed to imagine the development of Krakow's cultural life without independent bookstores - the favourite destinations for all readers. The KUCL Bookstore Fund project's strategy for supporting the growth of traditional bookstores is one of the key elements of the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature programme and is an extension of the Immune Bookshops programme, which has been in operation since 2020. Small bookstores are not just places where one can buy books – in many cases, they are active hubs of cultural life. That is why they mean so much to the cultural and literary identity of Krakow. A system of rent discounts has been in place in commercial buildings owned by the city, alongside with financial support for the organisers of cultural events held in bookstores in Krakow since 2011.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it became necessary to develop additional, effective, short-term protective measures for an industry whose activities contribute to Krakow’s unique character. In 2020, the City of Kraków and the Krakow Festival Office launched a large-scale protection and support project, the Immune Bookshops programme, which was aimed at “independent bookshops and antique bookstores not affiliated with any chains located in the City of Kraków”.
In 2021, we have organised a series of virtual book industry meetings, where participants could exchange knowledge and inspiration with other UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world. During the meetings, we hosted booksellers from Barcelona, Prague and Edinburgh.
In 2023, we announced a call for applications for the third Immune Bookshops programme, featuring the design of exhibition spaces and the organisation of literary events. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of Kraków winning the prestigious title of UNESCO City of Literature, we decided to encourage booksellers to highlight literature connected with the city and books under the patronage of KUCL, helping readers to find the best things the City of Literature has to offer – unquestionable classics, as well as titles by intriguing authors who contribute to the literary landscape of our city. The programme continued in 2024.
In 2025, we were able to increase funding for bookshops to 300,000 PLN and set up the KUCL Bookstore Fund programme. As part of the call for applications, bookstores will decide which benefits package they wish to take advantage of. Thanks to these benefits, the participating bookstores will display books by authors featured at festivals organised and co-organised by the Krakow Festival Office in addition to books released under the auspices of the KUCL. The Fund will also sponsor literary events in bookstores.