In 2018, Museum Night joins the celebrations of the centenary of Polish independence.
The theme of the 15th Museum Night in Kraków, “Museums in Independent Poland”, recalls the anniversary of Poland’s return to the map of Europe. Must-see exhibitions include those prepared as part of the Liberated_1918 campaign: Beautiful Independence at the Home Army Museum dedicated to women who worked towards independence, a presentation of photos of Kraków from the First World War from the collection of the Museum of Photography at Św. Marii Magdaleny Square Photographed Independence, and Motherland in Art at MOCAK revealing contemporary interpretations of the concept of “motherland”. And don’t forget to pop to the Podgórze Museum, branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, opened recently in the former Austrian barracks. On 31 October 1918, the site was the starting point of the march of volunteers led to liberate Kraków by Lieutenant Antoni Stawarz; the event is recalled by guided tour in the footsteps of the heroic officer.
In liberated Poland, Kraków set out ambitious, long-term urbanisation plans and projects for modern public buildings. The construction of the National Museum at Trzech Wieszczów Avenue started in 1934; it is now the Main Building of the National Museum in Krakow, and it will be the subject of one of the evening’s tours. Museum collections grew rapidly during the first years of independence: the Ethnographic Museum presents objects which were donated following appeals printed in the press during the interwar period.
Kraków, Wieliczka and Niepołomice are homes to dozens of modern museum with a wide range of profiles. They all open their doors on Museum Night and host numerous additional attractions; all events are free, but some require prior booking. Free tickets and commemorative tokens also entitle users to free public transport. (Dorota Dziunikowska, “Karnet” monthly)
