Jerzy Owsiak

Jerzy Zbigniew Owsiak (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjɛʐɨ ˈɔfɕak]; born 6 October 1953) is a Polish journalist and social campaigner. He is the founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP / Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy), one of the largest non-governmental, non-profit charity organizations in Poland. Owsiak is the main initiator and promoter for the group's Grand Finale, an annual worldwide festival where money is raised for the medical care of children as well as the elderly suffering from various medical conditions. He is also the creator of the annual Pol'and'Rock Festival, formerly known as Przystanek Woodstock ("Woodstock Festival"), the largest annual music festival in Poland, and one of the largest annual music festivals in the world.

Owsiak is married to Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak, the Medical Affairs Director for WOŚP. He is also a stained glass maker, and has qualifications in psychotherapy.

Life and activity

At the age of eight, Owsiak moved with his parents from Gdańsk to Warsaw. There, he graduated from high school, and later attempted to get enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. When he was a teenager, he was involved with the hippie subculture in the Masovian Voivodeship. His fascination with this subculture led to his idea for the Woodstock festival. He is married to Lidia (née Niedźwiecka) who is also a board member of the WOŚP Foundation.

Art career

Due to being acquainted with Wojciech Waglewski, Owsiak became well known in music circles. Since 1988, he has attended Voo Voo concerts. He has performed at some of them with his band, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Chińskich Ręczników (Society of Friends of Chinese Towels), and he started his programme on the Rozgłośnia Harcerska (the Scout's Radio Station).