Poland’s Museum Night to attract up to one million

The event – which sees museums open their doors at night, free to visitors - is being held in the city of Krakow tonight and elsewhere in Poland tomorrow.

The idea is to attract new visitors through a wide range of special programmes including performances, workshops, films, talks, and meetings with artists.

In Warsaw alone 204 venues will be open to the public.

In addition to the museums, visitors are invited to tour the Presidential Palace, the Belvedere Palace and some ministries.

In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for instance, the tour will include the room in which its top leadership met during martial law imposed in December 1981 to crush the Solidarity movement.

In the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), visitors will be shown the files documenting the surveillance of Polish athletes by the communist secret police.
Up to one million people are expected to participate in the attractions of the Museum Night.

In Warsaw, the longest lines will no doubt be formed outside the National Museum which has just opened after a thorough refurbishment and face-lift of its exhibition space. The re-opening of the Museum coincides with the 150th anniversary of its establishment.

Launched in 2004, the Museum Night has enjoyed a fast growing popularity in Poland. Last year, the event attracted over 250, 000 people in Warsaw alone. (mk/pg)