The Karski's Bench in front of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, February 2014, photo. Kasia Łuka

The Museum of the History of Polish Jews starts their artistic residencies programme - “Open Museum – Education in Action”. For this programme, the museum hosts Polish and foreign artists whose works deal with the themes of Jewish heritage and multiculturalism.

During three-week residencies, artists can develop their own ideas and run educational workshop for young people and adults. The resulting works are to be displayed in the museum seat and other spaces. The program is planned to run from 2014 to 2016 and the first residency begins in April. The rules of enrolment, which has a deadline of 21st February, 2014, can be found here...

Read and watch - the main exhibition under construction

Presence, Lack, Trace 

These are the categories that the artists adopt as the starting point for their projects. They define the history of the Polish Jews not as a period locked in the past, but as something that is still developing and has significance “here and now”.

Apart from references to different epochs of Jewish presence in Poland, we are also interested in the critical analysis of the contemporary public debate, social memory, common knowledge and imagination. We would like the intercultural discussion on these themes to emerge from the Polish local context, but at the same time, to acquire a universal meaning owing to the perspectives of the invited artists, hailing from different cultural backgrounds and employing a variety of artistic means. - say the organisers on the official website

They add:

We want to reflect together on the importance of Jewish heritage to us, its place in the contemporary era, collective and individual memory, and everyday experience; we also want to ask whether the perspective of the Other can teach us anything about the Polish-Jewish relations and our very selves?

The museum offers refunds of travel costs, half board, accommodation, workshop materials and artist fees to the artists as well as the help and support of the project team. 

The first residency lasts from 29th  April to 18th  May, 2014. During that time, the museum plans to  invite thirteen artists from all over the world.

Applications for the first residency are accepted until 21st February 2014. Further information about the program and registration form for interested persons is located on the official Museum website.

Source: The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, ed. mg, 7.2.2014, translated: Katarzyna Maksimiuk 10.02.2014