The Sukiennice, also known as the Cloth Hall, stands at the centre of the Rynek Glówny, the main square of Krakow's UNESCO-listed old town. The Sukiennice houses the Gallery of 19th century Polish art of the National Museum in Krakow.
The National Museum in Krakow was established in 1879 and is the oldest national museum in Poland. The museum contains a rich collection of works of Polish, European and non-European art, and is the biggest museum in Poland in terms of numbers of buildings (17), galleries (11) and with the biggest number of art artefacts (800 000). It organises a large number of exhibitions and cooperates actively with institutions and foundations abroad. The museum employs 600 staff.
Prior to the €5.2 million renovations financed by Norway, the exhibition conditions in the Sukiennice were far from adequate and posed a threat to the artefacts. The roof and terraces have now been reinforced and new heating, sewage, lighting and fire protection systems have been 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 disabled visitors.
Across the square from the Sukiennice one finds the International Cultural Centre, another building comprehensively renovated with support from the EEA Grants. In the same area one also finds the 3 buildings being renovated through the EEA Grants supported Jesuit Pearls project.
Photo: Sidsel Bleken, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Warsaw.