On the Deconstruction of the Museum

The discussion will be held in Polish.

The new international definition of a museum (ICOM, 2022), presents a universal understanding of the institution  - across all geographical locations, all types of collections and all organisational models. The practices that have been developed under this broad umbrella venture beyond this general brief – pointing in new directions, testing new solutions, placing the museum in a new place. These are often undertaken by small museums on the periphery of public attention, but rebellious ideas have also been springing up in mainstream museums, albeit rather on the margins of their activities. Museums that are aware of their social role have been redefining themselves in the context of changing cultural patterns and civilisational sea changes, taking on board new topics of public debate. Museums not only listen and document, but also speak out and take action as museums in an expanded field.

On the occasion of its 15^th anniversary, MOCAK has launched a project that aims to deconstruct the museum across a variety of fields and dimensions. The topics up for scrutiny and reflection include the collection, the audience, the neighbourhood, hierarchy, structure, responsibility, roles... and a number of other concepts, attitudes and patterns identified in the course of the project. How do we see the future from the perspective of the museum? What institutional formats are adequate to its challenges? Where are we now? What possibilities does the format of a contemporary art museum offer?

This discussion, with the participation of museologists and museum professionals, representatives of museum associations and directors of museums from a variety of types and locations, opens a year-long series of talks in which we will be exploring themes examining museum boundaries, rifts and possibilities.

Participants in the discussion will include: Adam Budak, MOCAK; Dorota Folga-Januszewska, Museum of King Jan IIIs Palace at Wilanów; Leszek Karczewski, Museum of Art in Łódź; Robert Kotowski, ICOM Poland, National Museum in Kielce; Joanna Ślaga, ICOM Poland, Jagiellonian University Museum Collegium Maius in Kraków, Michał Niezabitowski, Association of Polish Museum Professionals, Museum of Kraków.

Moderator: Katarzyna Jagodzińska