Małgorzata Łuszczak

Biography
Born on 11 November 1956 in Żywiec (Poland).
Małgorzata Łuszczak uses a variety of techniques including drawing, graphic art and multimedia.

Secondary school
In 1971-1976 attended the State Secondary School of Fine Arts in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, specialization in textile arts.

Higher education
In 1978-1982 Pedagogical and Art Department of the Silesian University branch in Cieszyn, Poland. Art diploma obtained in 1982, drawing lab – professor Zygmunt Lis, master thesis advisor – professor Katarzyna Olbrycht.

PhD in Humanities (art education at university level)
Publication in 1995, University of Maria-Curie Skłodowska in Lublin, the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, title: “Pedagogical methods of stimulating students’ spatial imagination” (“Pedagogiczne możliwości stymulowania wyobraźni przestrzennej studentów”) , supervisor: prof. Włodzimierz Goriszowski, reviewers: prof. Stanisław Popek, prof. Katarzyna Olbrycht.

Second degree qualification in the field of graphic arts
Awarded in 2001 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, the Faculty of Graphics and Painting, title: “The Naturalistic and the Metaphoric in Mountain Landscape and Nature” (“Konkret i metafora w pejzażu górskim i przyrodzie”).

Professorship
Post-doctoral research carried out in 2004 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, the Faculty of Graphics, title of research: “Establishing meeting points in the dialogue between art and nature. On the need for creating and finding yourself in the worlds intended also for others” (“Wyznaczanie punktów spotkania w dialogu sztuka-natura. O potrzebie tworzenia i odnajdywania siebie w światach przeznaczonych również dla innych”).

Career
Łuszczak works at the University of Silesia in Katowice and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia).
In 1981 she began her work at the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Faculty of Art in Cieszyn as a trainee and in 2008 she was appointed a full professor. In 2002-2007 and 2008-2012 she was a director of the Institute of Art. Since 2012 she has been Dean of the Faculty of Art in Cieszyn. In 2006-2012, she headed the Department of Interdisciplinary Artistic Creation. Since 2012, head of the New Media Department. She has worked on a number of faculty and senate committees, including: – Budget Committee of Cieszyn Branch, 2002-2005 – The Senate Committee for Research and International Cooperation, 2002-2005. – The Senate Budget Committee for the 2012-2016 and 2016-2019 terms – The Senate Committee for Personnel Development 2005-2008. Since 2008 she has been a member of the University of Silesia Senate.

Since 2008 she has been a member of the University of Silesia Art Council at His Magnificence Rector and she has been a president of the Pro Scientia at Arte Award University Chapter since 2005. In 2006-2015, a member of the National Intercollegiate Art Education Council. Since 2004 she has been a member of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers.

Didactics
Head of postgraduate studies from 1996 to 2007 and co-author of the following programs: - Introduction to information technology and software - Computer and editorial graphics - Computer and multimedia graphics. Co-author of the postgraduate studies program – Video Game Computer Graphics – financed from the PWP project “Game and Virtual Space Design – innovative development of second-cycle studies based on the experience of foreign partners” implemented in the academic year 2014/2015.

She is a professor personally endorsing the course and the co-author of an innovative syllabus for the Video Game and Virtual Space Design course with specializations in Video Game Graphics and Video Game Audio. In 1995-2012, she ran her own drawing and multimedia studio, taught image editing, supervised creative projects, gave an MA seminar and MA artistic workshops on Artistic Education in the Field of Visual Arts and Graphics courses. In 2000-2008 leader of the ArtMedia Scientific Circle. She has supervised a number of theses by graduates of the Art Education in Fine Arts course. She currently teaches courses at the Game and Virtual Space Design, Video Game Graphics specialization and Ph.D. courses carried out by the Institute of Art. She instructs in drawing, space imaging and digital graphics. She also runs the artistic MA diploma studio and teaches at doctoral studies

In 2007, Łuszczak began her work at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia) at the Faculty of Mass Media Communication. She teaches doctoral courses. She promoted a number of PhD students at the University of Silesia and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius between 2002 and 2014. She has also reviewed several post-doctoral theses.
In 1995-1999, she worked as an Art Design Director for TopWare, a German company producing video games. She was a team leader for Jack Orlando and last but not least – its remarkable beauty.

Artistic work
The role she sees for herself in the world is mainly that of an observer and interpreter, who enjoys the environment and appreciates the amazing influence of its natural and man-made richness on her emotions, sensitivity, imagination and development. She understands creativity as a form of a dialogue with the surroundings, and her artistic work as a method of studying and learning about reality. Her favourite themes include mountains, trees, grasses, puddles, leaves. What she utterly dislikes is the senseless interference of humans with the environment. Moreover, she is concerned with the popularization of visual culture and using new media in art education. She is interested in the connections between culture and technology as well as science and art understood as two planes in the space of human activity. The integration of these two seemingly separate areas results in a synergy and creates very interesting perspectives for creative activity. This new situation gives room for reflection and sets directions for artistic and research exploration.

Projects
2015–2019

• Festival of Art and Independent Games, LAG, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. Creative Europe – Culture, Beneficiary: University of Silesia in Katowice, partners: University of Ostrava (the Czech Republic) and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia). Agreement number: 2015 -1450/001- 001 Art director of the project/festival

2014–2915

• “PWP Game and Virtual Space Design – innovative development of second-cycle studies based on the experience offoreign partners”, Priority IV: Higher education and science, Sub-measure: 4.1.1. Strengthening of didactic potential. Leader: Katarzyna Wójcik. The project included study visits of academics at university centres in the European Union and the United States, placements in leading video game companies, lectures and workshops for students, e.g. at the Alwernia Studio; the Summer Games Academy was organized for students from three faculties of the University of Silesia which offer courses related to video games. Introduction to Video Game Design, edited by Remigiusz Kopoczek, was published (ISBN 83-87528-31-5)

2013–2014

• “University Campus in Cieszyn: Info-Art" project financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013. National Cohesion Strategy. The purpose of the Info-Art was to set up a New Media Laboratory and adapt it to modern forms of education applied in the Video Game and Virtual Space Design course. It enabled the development of new educational ideas and made classes more appealing. Contract no.: WND-RPSL.08.01.00-00-05/09-0

2013–2015

• “Increasing adult participation in IT tools and technologies education – NITKA”. Project co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund. Human capital. National Cohesion Strategy. University of Silesia in Katowice. Contract no.: UDA-POKL.04.03.00-00-168/12

2008-2013

• The University as a Partner of Knowledge-based Economy, Human Capital - European Social Fund, “E-course in self-presentation”

Organizational work and popularization of art
(artistic happenings, festivals, workshops, open-air activities, organization of exhibitions – examples)

• 1999 – co-organizer of the Educational Fair and the 2nd National Presentation “Education 2000” held in the sports and entertainment arena “Spodek” in Katowice
• 1999-2003 – organizer of workshops and exhibitions at the Beskidy Festival of Science and Art
• 2000-2001 – co-organizer of the national “Art and computer” workshops for the Centre for Cultural Animation in Warszawa

In 2000-2012, Małgorzata Łuszczak was chairperson of the Program Board of the University Gallery and a curator of several exhibitions presenting the works of students and national and international artists.
The most important ones include:

2008-2013

• The University as a Partner of Knowledge-based Economy, Human Capital - European Social Fund, “E-course in self-presentation”

2013-2015

• “Increasing adult participation in IT tools and technologies education – NITKA”. Project co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund. Human capital. National Cohesion Strategy. University of Silesia in Katowice. Contract no.: UDA-POKL.04.03.00-00-168/12

2013-2014

• “University Campus in Cieszyn: Info-Art" project financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013. National Cohesion Strategy. The purpose of the Info-Art was to set up a New Media Laboratory and adapt it to modern forms of education applied in the Video Game and Virtual Space Design course. It enabled the development of new educational ideas and made classes more appealing. Contract no.: WND-RPSL.08.01.00-00-05/09-04

2014-2015

• “PWP Game and Virtual Space Design – innovative development of second-cycle studies based on the experience offoreign partners”, Priority IV: Higher education and science, Sub-measure: 4.1.1. Strengthening of didactic potential. Leader: Katarzyna Wójcik. The project included study visits of academics at university centres in the European Union and the United States, placements in leading video game companies, lectures and workshops for students, e.g. at the Alwernia Studio; the Summer Games Academy was organized for students from three faculties of the University of Silesia which offer courses related to video games. Introduction to Video Game Design, edited by Remigiusz Kopoczek, was published (ISBN 83-87528-31-5)

2015-2016

• “Game and Virtual Space Design – second-cycle studies”, Beneficiary: University of Silesia in Katowice, FSS/2013/HEI/W/0121/U/0053, project financed from EEA funds, coming from Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and from national funds. Human Capital. National Cohesion Strategy. Leader: Irena Szweda. Project’s site: http://www.game.us.edu.pl/

2015-2019

• Festival of Art and Independent Games, LAG, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. Creative Europe – Culture, Beneficiary: University of Silesia in Katowice, partners: University of Ostrava (the Czech Republic) and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia). Agreement number: 2015 -1450/001- 001 Art director of the project/festival

Organizational work and popularization of art
(artistic happenings, festivals, workshops, open-air activities, organization of exhibitions – examples)

• 1999 – co-organizer of the Educational Fair and the 2nd National Presentation “Education 2000” held in the sports and entertainment arena “Spodek” in Katowice
• 1999-2003 – organizer of workshops and exhibitions at the Beskidy Festival of Science and Art
• 2000-2001 – co-organizer of the national “Art and computer” workshops for the Centre for Cultural Animation in Warszawa

In 2000-2012, Małgorzata Łuszczak was chairperson of the Program Board of the University Gallery and a curator of several exhibitions presenting the works of students and national and international artists.