In Warsaw, increasing access to the Jewish cultural heritage

More than 3 million people have benefitted from the Jewish cultural heritage project at POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. The project was developed in close cooperation between Polish and Norwegian cultural players.

Credits: Alicja Szulc

Located in the former heart of Jewish Warsaw, the POLIN Museum opened its doors in 2013 in an effort to raise awareness on the country’s rich Jewish history and culture. The goal of the project is to promote tolerance in today’s multicultural society. It is aimed at school children, teachers and educators. So far, 440 000 school children have taken part in educational activities in and outside the Museum or online. Forty-three towns have been visited by the touring exhibition - Museum on Wheels.

Cooperation with Norway


The Jewish cultural heritage project has received more than €2.5 million under the Polish ‘Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage’ programme which is carried out in cooperation with several Norwegian institutions: The Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies (HL Centre), The European Wergeland Centre, The Falstad Centre and the Jewish museums of Oslo and Trondheim.

“Poland has a unique position in Europe in terms of Jewish history and it is an important task to carry out research on this topic and to communicate this part of history to a broad audience,” said Vibeke Moe, Project Coordinator and Researcher at the HL Centre.

Outstanding educational and outreach programme


POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews received the prestigious European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) 2016. In its decision, the jury highlighted, among other things, the Museum’s outstanding educational and outreach programmes that has received support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

In the beginning of May 2016, POLIN was awarded yet another prestigious award - the European Museum Academy Prize - by a group of outstanding European museum professionals. The award ceremony took place during the Annual General Meeting of the Europeana Network Association in Riga on 8 November.

Read more about the awards

Read more about the project

Cultural heritage programme in Poland


This is one of 24 projects funded through the €70 million cultural heritage programme supporting the restoration and conservation of Poland’s diverse cultural heritage and increasing access to culture.

Results from selected programme

 

21 Cultural heritage buildings restored

19 Projects documenting cultural history making heritage via digital technology

50% Projects with a Donor Partner

 

Read more about the EEA and Norway Grants to Poland