The Sukiennice building houses the Gallery of 19th century Polish art of the National Museum in Cracow, which is the biggest museum in Poland in terms of numbers of buildings, galleries and exhibited art works.
The National Museum was established in 1879. Since its inception, the Gallery has been a national treasure and one of Cracow’s key tourist attractions. However, the passing of time did not spare the building and prior to the renovation work that started in 2006, the exhibition conditions in the Sukiennice were far from adequate.
With €5.2 million in grant support from Norway, the roof and terraces have now been reinforced and new heating, sewage, lighting and fire protection systems installed. The introduced air conditioning, ventilation and heating parameters in the renovated museum are optimal for the artefacts on display. Among the other elements of the renovation project are new CCTV and security systems, a temporary exhibition space, a new cloakroom and sanitary facilities, and a museum shop and cage. The building has also been adjusted to the needs of visitors with disabilities.
According to experts, the remodeled gallery better reflects its 19th-century interior design. The modernised museum has also been equipped with interactive displays; its 196 paintings and 19 sculptures are now flanked by a new multimedia hall, an educational room and touch screens.
Read more about the Sukiennice here.
Photo: Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.