Description
The main goal of the project is to enable presentation of the collection and memorabilia of J. Czapski and his contemporaries, and it will allow to achieve such objectives as: a.to improve the protection, preservation and effective use of cultural heritage of supra-regional importance; b.to improve the condition of preservation ??of the collection of European and national importance; c.to improve access to culture and - ultimately - to increase country's attractiveness for domestic and foreign tourists; d.to utilise the development potential of the cultural infrastructure of supra-regional importance. The National Museum in Kraków plans to build in its Branch at Pilsudskiego street Pavilion dedicated to Józef Czapski - painter, writer, intellectual and witness of the history of Poland of the 20th century. The Project covers: 1. construction of an exhibition pavilion for presentation of collection and memorabilia related to J. Czapski and his contemporaries; conservation of part of the exhibits; 2. Digitisation of part of the collection and providing it to the public; 3. Purchase of equipment and accessories; 4. New cultural and educational offer.
Summary of project results
The main purpose of the project was to make possible a presentation of collections and memorabilia of Józef Czapski (1896-1993) and his contemporaries. The idea of building a new exhibition pavilion, presenting personal objects of Józef Czapski, among other exhibits, was connected with the realisation of Czapki’s testament in 1994, which posthumously transferred his archives (including those of contemporary painters, writers and the Czapski family), memorabilia and book collection, as well as the archives of his sister Maria (1894-1981), to the National Museum in Krakow. The main goal of the project was realised through the construction and furnishing of an exhibition pavilion devoted to a presentation of the collections and memorabilia of Józef Czapski and his contemporaries (1 building with a surface area of 610.9 m²). The Józef Czapski pavilion was built on the grounds of the Emeryk Hutten–Czapski Museum (1828-1896, grandfather of Józef Czapski), which in 1903 was donated together with the most valuable numismatic collection in Poland by the Czapski family to the National Museum in Krakow. Additionally, the original furnishing of Józef Czapski’s room was secured through conservation (34 objects), 667 volumes of the book collection were secured against degradation, while parts of the archives and book collection were digitised and made accessible (374 objects, 55857 scans). Also a new program offer was prepared, taking in exhibition (temporary exhibitions), as well as educational and dissemination activities (lecture cycles, conferences, training sessions, workshops, guide services, etc.). In the Pavilion, the room of Józef Czapski is modelled on a 1:1 scale, transferred together with personal objects and equipment from the apartment in Maisons-Laffitte near Paris. The artist’s archives, gathered over 50 years, were made available to researchers, including the famous "Dzienniki" (Journals), workshop materials and correspondence. The Pavilion also houses a permanent biographical exhibition of the painter, connected with his life and work, as well as the tragic fate of Poles in the Soviet Union after 1939. In the cultural café, lectures are organised on the subjects of painting, Polish literature in Poland and of emigrants after the Second World War, as well as meetings dedicated to eminent figures of Polish literature and politics. All of the project goals have been 100 % executed in relation to assumed numbers (in the case of realisation of the “number of digitized collections of cultural heritage” the figure is 114%), and have a permanent nature.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral cooperation resulted in study visits in all three Donor States. All the expected outcomes have been achieved. The objective of the bilateral cooperation was to accompany the infrastructural part of project with additional activities aiming at exchange of knowledge and good practicies. All the study visits have been completed. The mutual knowledge has been significantly broadened and the planned expert cooperation resulted in successful exchange. Strategy for digitization and dissemination of Józef Czapski heritage as well as educational strategy for cooperation with local community in Cracow have been laid down. The brochures with the summary of cooperation have been worked out. The cooperation may be continued in the future.