National Museum, Krakau

Profil

The National Museum in Krakow was originally founded as a municipal institution so as to shun control by the occupant's government in Vienna. In 1950, already as a state museum, it came under the authority of the Ministry of Culture. It is financed by the Ministry and from its own proceeds which, for the past few years, the Museum has been able to generate despite its status of a non-profit organisation. At the moment it employs 644 people, including 257 in curatorial areas and a relatively big internal security forces of 112 armed officers who provide safeguarding services in all the buildings.

The first statute of the Museum was conferred in 1883. The current statute of 2001, the eighth in the institution's history, was the first in which the Museum's mission was laid down as follows:
"The mission of the Museum is to bear testimony to national and human values by promoting world and Polish art, especially the achievements of the Krakow artistic community, as well as through museum activities associated with its collections and works of scientific, historical and artistic merit, which were produced out of beliefs of those who shared a sense of belonging to or respect for Polish culture, regardless of their place of residence, nationality or religion".

To fulfil this mission the Museum protects the national legacy that has been put in its care. In doing that the Museum applies the latest technologies yet not without due respect for tradition. Hopefully, with this approach the Museum will enjoy a prominent place and play a major part in the uniting Europe.