On May 16, 2014, the ceremonious opening of the Ceramics Department building at 13 Mickiewicza Street took place. Vernissage attendees were able to see the new arrangement of the permanent exhibitions and museum garden for the first time, and also had the unique opportunity to see the storage rooms and conservation studio, which are not normally open to visitors.
“The museum’s present image is the result of several years of hard work,” said Anna Bober-Tubaj, director of the Museum of Ceramics. As part of the latest investment activities, in 2013–2014 the building’s attic was rebuilt, housing a storage room, office and social and sanitary facilities.
A studio equipped with modern technology for conserving ceramics, stone and craft products was also created from scratch. In addition, the roof covering was replaced and the façades renovated. The work was carried out as part of the “Via Fabrilis – Route of Craft Traditions II” project, implemented in cooperation with the Museum of the Krkonoše National Park in Vrchlabí. It was another joint undertaking by a Polish and Czech institution.
The vernissage provided an opportunity to summarize the international cooperation of the Museum of Ceramics, which from 2008 to 2014, together with the Museum of the Krkonoše National Park in Vrchlabí and Schlesisches Museum zu Goerlitz, carried out several important projects. These projects enabled renovation work to be completed in both departments of the Museum of Ceramics, modern exhibition and multimedia equipment to be purchased, and the garden by the Ceramics Department and courtyard by the City History Department to be developed, where exhibitions, lectures and workshops can be organized.
An important element of the Polish-German project was also the scientific program “Research on Bolesławiec Ceramics,” which resulted in the publication of two books of more than 350 pages each and the organization of three exhibitions—two in Bolesławiec and one in Goerlitz.
“The museum’s activities form part of the strategy of obtaining funds from the European Union and other sources, which has been pursued by the city of Bolesławiec for years,” summarized Mayor Piotr Roman.
Guests from the Czech and German museums attended the opening. In an exceptionally warm atmosphere, Blanka Zázvorkova from the Museum of the Krkonoše National Park in Vrchlabí and Martin Kügler from Schlesisches Museum zu Goerlitz discussed the results of their cooperation to date and their shared experiences.
(commissioned information: Bolesławiec City Hall)