Gdansk City Council is a control and legislative body, which oversees the institutional organisation of the city of Gdansk. One of the Council prerogatives is to administer local cultural institutions.

Since many important events in the history of Polish democratic movement occurred in Gdansk, city's authorities support various projects intended to preserve the memory of Solidarity movement and other counter-systemic initiatives. In 2007 the Mayor of Gdansk signed the erection act of the European Solidarity Centre (ECS), which is a multi-purpose cultural institution, established to share the legacy of peaceful and united counter-systemic opposition. ECS leads several collections, based on gathered photographs, exhibits, and recordings.