The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of Jerzy Grotowski’s death, 50 years since Ludwik Flaszen and Jerzy Grotowski took over the Theatre of the 13 Rows in Opole (later the Laboratory Theatre) and the 25th anniversary of the dissolution of the Laboratory Theatre.

In November 2007, in recognition of these events, the General Conference of UNESCO added the founding of the Laboratory Theatre to the list of anniversaries to be celebrated within its 2008–2009 programme.

The Grotowski Institute is the initiators and the principal co-ordinator of the worldwide, Grotowski Year 2009 celebrations. The co-hosts of the Grotowski Year inauguration are co-founders of the Laboratory Theatre: Ludwik Flaszen, Rena Mirecka and Zygmunt Molik