The EXPO world exhibitions are the most important, the largest and the most prestigious promotional events in the world. In contrast to other commercial exhibitions and fairs, their official participants are states and international organizations. Advertisement and promotion of businesses and their products, in line with regulations of world expositions, is significantly limited.

The First World EXPO took place in 1851 at the Cristal Palace in London. Since then, World EXPOs have taken place 69 times. Some of them were considered by the International Exhibitions Bureau (Bureau International des Expositions – BIE ) in Paris universal exhibitions (world-scale) – this kind of exhibitions currently take place every 5 years, others – less extensive, shorter lasting and with a smaller number of participants – international specialized  expositions. The last universal exhibition (EXPO 2005) took place in Japan in the Aichi prefecture between 25.03.2005 through 25.09.2005, in which 120 states and international organizations participated. The one before last – took place in Hannover, Germany in 2000 – with participation of 189 states and international organizations. A specialized exhibition was the EXPO’98 in Lisbon, devoted to the Oceans - A Heritage for the Future. In turn in 2008, between June 14 and September 13 in Zaragoza, Spain, a specialized exhibition will take place whose theme shall be „Water and sustainable development”.

Every EXPO is an economic, media and cultural event of great proportions. It is promotion of achievements and potential of a country in the international arena. Thousands of people find jobs in organization of the event, increased flow of taxes improves the state budget, and the developed infrastructure serves subsequent generations. Organization of an EXPO is a great distinction for a country.

Within the over 160 years which have lapsed since The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in London, the concept of world exhibitions has changed significantly. In the 19^th and through the end of the 60s of the 20^th century (until the EXPO in Osaka in 1970), the exhibitions focused chiefly on presentation of achievements of science and technology, inventions, fascination with scientific-technological advancement and industrialization process, displaying unshaken faith in human ability in the field of science and technology. Therefore, these exhibitions presented the latest inventions or technological achievements (e.g. the Eiffel Tower).

Beginning with the EXPO’70 in Osaka, Exhibitions ceased to be a forum of presentation of technological achievement, presentation of „more size, power and splendor”. In return, the themes of EXPOs increasingly relate to common search for solutions of global problems of our civilization, to the response to the question „who does it wiser”. The themes and presentations of the individual participants reflect the care for common future, a search for means of overcoming the negative consequences entailed by civilization development, a search for ways and manners for sustainable development of the world. This means also posing of general questions about the mechanisms governing the world in the coming decades.

All international EXPOs, which took place in the last 10 years, referred to the above issues and challenges of our times. And so, the theme of the Specialized Exhibition EXPO’98 in Lisbon was: „ Oceans - A Heritage for the Future”. The theme of the Universal Exhibition EXPO 2000 in Hannover was „Humankind, Nature, Technology”,whereas the Universal Exhibition EXPO 2005 in Aichi took place under the slogans „Nature's Wisdom” and „Art of Life”. Japanese organizers of EXPO 2005 suggested a search for relations between mechanisms of nature and human achievement, both in the material sphere and in the sphere of social mechanisms, ethical norms or in the sphere of science. The sub-theme “Art of Life” is a question about the ability of man to live in harmony with nature, about such arrangement of the world so as not to contravene mechanisms of nature, but to fill them with ever more civilized form. To have our world not destroy the good flowing from nature, but richen it with the good of civilization development.

The individual countries in universal exhibitions EXPO, attempted to refer with the main idea (message) of their pronouncement to the exhibition themes set forth by their organizers. The idea of the Polish pronouncement at the EXPO 2005, referring directly to the “art of Life” sub-theme was the slogan „See the Beauty”. This slogan followed from the Polish experience and achievements, from the contribution that Poland has brought to the world civilization and culture. A visitor to the Polish Pavilion, participating in the Polish program at the EXPO 2005 could see the beauty of Poland in many dimensions: the beauty of Polish nature and landscapes, wise coexistence of nature and civilization, the beauty of artistic works, inspired by nature and finally the beauty of man, which is expressed to the fullest in interpersonal relations. The leading idea adopted by Poland referred to the „Art of Life” subtheme, because Poland raises admiration among its guests inter alia for reason of its ability to arrange relations between fields of activity and the sphere of values in such way that gives satisfaction in both the general and the everyday perspective. Poland is situated at the very heart of Europe, at the contact point of cultures and traditions. Hence, in its over 1000-year history it has been open and tolerant, offering opportunities for integration of various values.