2024’s Pamiętaj z nami: remember with us
We invite you to explore the program for this year's edition of Pamiętaj z nami (Remember with us), a recurring event organized by the Museum of Krakow since 2012.
Between 1st and 20th October 2024, events will take place at three branches of the Memory Trial: Pomorska Street, the Eagle Pharmacy, and Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. The proposed activities will revolve around the central theme of war experiences of refugees from World War II and present-day conflicts, with a special focus on those fleeing Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
The theme will be approached from both an individual perspective and within a broader context, addressing the mechanisms connected to this issue. The chosen theme is deeply rooted in the heritage of the city and its residents, but it naturally extends beyond Krakow. The large influx of Ukrainian refugees since 2022 has posed challenges on many levels for the state and major urban centers during the early weeks of the war. The events will primarily reflect the experiences of Poles and Ukrainians, while also acknowledging political refugees from Belarus and the Middle East.
The project's goals include education, promoting empathy and human solidarity, integrating people from different cultures, as well as fostering memory and social engagement. The event’s audience includes Krakow residents of all ages, the Ukrainian minority in Krakow, international tourists visiting the Memory Trial branches, and residents of the Podgórze and Krowodrza districts where the Memory Trial locations are situated.
The program will feature historical workshops for youth, discussions, lectures, film screenings combined with meetings with Ukrainian creators, the unveiling of a mural created by Polish and Ukrainian artists, an outdoor exhibition at Ghetto Heroes Square, concerts in exhibition spaces, and the theatrical performance "Huljet, huljet" by Teatr Figur Kraków. There will also be meetings with war correspondents reporting on contemporary armed conflicts and representatives of non-governmental organizations helping refugees, guided exhibition tours and culinary workshops integrating Ukrainian, Belarusian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The grand finale will be a concert titled "Wołanie o pokój" (Cry for Peace) at Schindler’s Factory by the international choir, Jednym głosem, accompanied by poetry readings dedicated to wars and refugees, serving as a reflective tribute to the victims of war.
The theme will be approached from both an individual perspective and within a broader context, addressing the mechanisms connected to this issue. The chosen theme is deeply rooted in the heritage of the city and its residents, but it naturally extends beyond Krakow. The large influx of Ukrainian refugees since 2022 has posed challenges on many levels for the state and major urban centers during the early weeks of the war. The events will primarily reflect the experiences of Poles and Ukrainians, while also acknowledging political refugees from Belarus and the Middle East.
The project's goals include education, promoting empathy and human solidarity, integrating people from different cultures, as well as fostering memory and social engagement. The event’s audience includes Krakow residents of all ages, the Ukrainian minority in Krakow, international tourists visiting the Memory Trial branches, and residents of the Podgórze and Krowodrza districts where the Memory Trial locations are situated.
The program will feature historical workshops for youth, discussions, lectures, film screenings combined with meetings with Ukrainian creators, the unveiling of a mural created by Polish and Ukrainian artists, an outdoor exhibition at Ghetto Heroes Square, concerts in exhibition spaces, and the theatrical performance "Huljet, huljet" by Teatr Figur Kraków. There will also be meetings with war correspondents reporting on contemporary armed conflicts and representatives of non-governmental organizations helping refugees, guided exhibition tours and culinary workshops integrating Ukrainian, Belarusian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The grand finale will be a concert titled "Wołanie o pokój" (Cry for Peace) at Schindler’s Factory by the international choir, Jednym głosem, accompanied by poetry readings dedicated to wars and refugees, serving as a reflective tribute to the victims of war.
1st October: OPENING (14:00 – 15:00)
Opening of the outdoor exhibition "Nie było domu, gdzie by nie zabrano kogoś z najbliższych" (There was no home where someone wasn’t taken) about the October deportation from the Krakow ghetto which will take plase at the Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta).
On 28th October 1942, the Germans deported several thousand Jews from the Krakow ghetto to the Bełżec death camp. Among the victims of the October deportation were children from the Jewish Orphanage and their caretakers, patients from Jewish hospitals in the ghetto, as well as many people holding valid work permits. Those designated for deportation were escorted to Concord Square — now Ghetto Heroes Square.
After the war, a few survivors gave testimonies about their wartime experiences to the Provincial Jewish Historical Commission in Krakow. Some of them described in detail the events that took place in the ghetto on 28th October 1942. Sabina Mirowska recalled that the director of the Jewish orphanage, Anna Feuerstein, had a chance to avoid deportation but chose to stay with the children, saying, "I’ve been with the children for over twenty years, and I will stay with them in this moment". On the 82nd anniversary of these tragic events, using the testimonies of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust, we will remember the fate of those whose lives were brutally interrupted.
On 28th October 1942, the Germans deported several thousand Jews from the Krakow ghetto to the Bełżec death camp. Among the victims of the October deportation were children from the Jewish Orphanage and their caretakers, patients from Jewish hospitals in the ghetto, as well as many people holding valid work permits. Those designated for deportation were escorted to Concord Square — now Ghetto Heroes Square.
After the war, a few survivors gave testimonies about their wartime experiences to the Provincial Jewish Historical Commission in Krakow. Some of them described in detail the events that took place in the ghetto on 28th October 1942. Sabina Mirowska recalled that the director of the Jewish orphanage, Anna Feuerstein, had a chance to avoid deportation but chose to stay with the children, saying, "I’ve been with the children for over twenty years, and I will stay with them in this moment". On the 82nd anniversary of these tragic events, using the testimonies of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust, we will remember the fate of those whose lives were brutally interrupted.
- Exhibition scenario author and curator: Katarzyna Kocik.
- Activity is available in Polish and English.
4th October (12:00 – 19:00)
Urban game "Konspiracja w cieniu swastyki" (Conspiracy in the shadow of the swastika). Start at the Courtyard of the Museum building at Pomorska Street 2.
Faced with the brutal policies of the Germans, the natural reaction of the occupied population was to organize underground resistance structures. They were created by representatives of almost every social group, which is why their dimension took on various forms. The military, intelligentsia, representatives of the peasant population, as well as the Jews confined in the ghetto, created their own structures. Each group had its own organizational form and goals, but they all shared a common aim – resistance against the German occupier. Often, those involved in the resistance paid the ultimate price for their defiance. During the urban game, participants will explore the underground resistance structures of Polish soldiers, the Jewish population, and the intelligentsia. The game will cover topics such as sabotage actions, document production, secret education, and German terror policies and forms of repression.
Game route: Pomorska Street 2 – Plac Krakowski (Krakowski Square) – Adam Mickiewicz Avenue – Wawel – Skawińska Street – Plac Nowy (The New Square) – Nadwiślańska Street – Ghetto Heroes Square, The Eagle Pharmacy – Lipowa Street, Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory.
Faced with the brutal policies of the Germans, the natural reaction of the occupied population was to organize underground resistance structures. They were created by representatives of almost every social group, which is why their dimension took on various forms. The military, intelligentsia, representatives of the peasant population, as well as the Jews confined in the ghetto, created their own structures. Each group had its own organizational form and goals, but they all shared a common aim – resistance against the German occupier. Often, those involved in the resistance paid the ultimate price for their defiance. During the urban game, participants will explore the underground resistance structures of Polish soldiers, the Jewish population, and the intelligentsia. The game will cover topics such as sabotage actions, document production, secret education, and German terror policies and forms of repression.
Game route: Pomorska Street 2 – Plac Krakowski (Krakowski Square) – Adam Mickiewicz Avenue – Wawel – Skawińska Street – Plac Nowy (The New Square) – Nadwiślańska Street – Ghetto Heroes Square, The Eagle Pharmacy – Lipowa Street, Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
4th-6th October: POMORSKA STREET
4th October (Friday, 12:00)
Official launch of the urban game "Konspiracja w cieniu swastyki" (Conspiracy in the shadow of the swastika).
4th October (Friday, 15:00)
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "People of Kraków in Times of Terror" and the history of the Gestapo prison, following the stories of those who, as refugees in 1939 from the Eastern Borderlands, Silesia, and Greater Poland, and in 1944 from Warsaw, found refuge in Krakow and were later repressed by the occupiers.
Lecture "Kraków jako azyl skrzywdzonych przez wojnę" (Krakow as a haven for war victims).
A lecture by Dr. Marcin Horąski (The IPN Historical Research Office in Krakow) discussing the role of Krakow in 1944-1945 as a center of aid for war refugees, Poles expelled by the Germans from various parts of occupied Poland, and those liberated from concentration camps.
Concert by the Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia performing live music in the "People of Kraków in Times of Terror" exhibition space, accompanied by the reading of testimonies from Polish war refugees.
Discussion panel "Losy polskich uchodźców wojennych w okresie II wojny światowe i opowieści o nich" (The fate of Polish war refugees during World War II and their stories).
The meeting will address the situation of refugees from territories annexed by the Third Reich in 1939, Volhynia in 1943 and Warsaw in 1944. The discussion will explore the reasons for their flight, the differences and similarities in their circumstances, and the psychological consequences of being expelled from their homeland. Additionally, the session will cover the challenges of presenting these narratives in museum exhibitions.
Panelists and topics:
Official launch of the urban game "Konspiracja w cieniu swastyki" (Conspiracy in the shadow of the swastika).
4th October (Friday, 15:00)
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "People of Kraków in Times of Terror" and the history of the Gestapo prison, following the stories of those who, as refugees in 1939 from the Eastern Borderlands, Silesia, and Greater Poland, and in 1944 from Warsaw, found refuge in Krakow and were later repressed by the occupiers.
- Registration required, admission ticket needed.
- Activity is available in Polish.
Lecture "Kraków jako azyl skrzywdzonych przez wojnę" (Krakow as a haven for war victims).
A lecture by Dr. Marcin Horąski (The IPN Historical Research Office in Krakow) discussing the role of Krakow in 1944-1945 as a center of aid for war refugees, Poles expelled by the Germans from various parts of occupied Poland, and those liberated from concentration camps.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Concert by the Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia performing live music in the "People of Kraków in Times of Terror" exhibition space, accompanied by the reading of testimonies from Polish war refugees.
- Activity open to all visitors.
Discussion panel "Losy polskich uchodźców wojennych w okresie II wojny światowe i opowieści o nich" (The fate of Polish war refugees during World War II and their stories).
The meeting will address the situation of refugees from territories annexed by the Third Reich in 1939, Volhynia in 1943 and Warsaw in 1944. The discussion will explore the reasons for their flight, the differences and similarities in their circumstances, and the psychological consequences of being expelled from their homeland. Additionally, the session will cover the challenges of presenting these narratives in museum exhibitions.
Panelists and topics:
- Refugees from areas annexed by the Third Reich in 1939: Mariusz Gratkowski.
- Volhynia in 1943: Tomasz Potkaj.
- Warsaw in 1944: Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA.
11th-13th October: EAGLE PHARMACY
11th October (Friday, 11:00 – 12:30)
Workshop "Dzieciństwo w getcie" (Childhood in the Ghetto)
The fate of children during World War II often evokes strong emotions. This is particularly evident when we realize that many children, aged 9-10, had to bear the responsibility of supporting their families in the ghetto. One could say they were forced to grow up overnight due to hunger, death and suffering.
The workshop aims to highlight the experiences of Jewish children during the Holocaust, encouraging students to reflect on their lives, daily struggles, dreams – and their deaths.
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "Tadeusz Pankiewicz's Pharmacy in Kraków Ghetto"
Lecture "Przecież nie mogę ich narażać" (I can’t endanger them): escapees from the Krakow ghetto
When the German occupation authorities established the so-called "residential district" for Krakow's Jews in Podgórze in March 1941, few could have foreseen that this persecution would lead to the extermination of entire Jewish communities. Despite anti-Jewish regulations and daily violence, the ghetto residents did everything to survive, but only a few chose to escape beyond the ghetto walls. This lecture will tell the stories of those who managed to flee the ghetto, explaining the circumstances that led to their decisions, the methods of escape, and the lives of escapees on the so-called "Aryan side", as well as the attitudes of non-Jewish locals toward Jews trying to save their lives.
Educational walk with Andrzej Chytkowski following the path of victims deported from the Krakow ghetto to the Bełżec death camp (Ghetto Heroes Square – Kraków Płaszów Station), including a symbolic commemoration of Krakow’s Holocaust victims.
Evening with Kroke Gebirtig "Jak lokalnie dbać o pamięć o krakowskich ofiarach Zagłady?" (How to locally preserve the memory of Krakow's Holocaust victims?)
A meeting with Anna and Maria Jeziorny, who will talk about their work in the Mordechai Gebirtig Poetic Workshop. The event will conclude with students from Podgórze schools reading several poems by Mordechai Gebirtig, a Krakow poet who was murdered during the Holocaust.
Workshop "Jak spakować życie do walizki?" (How to pack your life into a suitcase?)
During this workshop, we will seek answers to the question: what is truly important when faced with conflict, natural disasters or life-threatening situations? Do we know how to act in such moments, and what should we prepare in advance? We will look at examples of deportations, expulsions and resettlements from both the past and present (Syria, Ukraine).
The workshop will include active group work, followed by a discussion on minimalism and whether it is better to "have more" or "be more".
Workshop "Przerwane dzieciństwo" (Interrupted childhood)
This workshop will reflect on childhood experiences during World War II and contemporary conflicts. Participants will create three photo albums. The first will depict our own childhoods. For the second, we will travel back in time to the period of Krakow's occupation (1939-1945), examining the stories of Jewish children who lived in the Podgórze ghetto or were sent to KL Plaszow. The third album will reveal photographs and personal stories of children affected by modern conflicts in Ukraine, Syria and Somalia.
The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the importance of the fundamental values in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and how we can contribute to defending the youngest victims. The goal is to raise moral awareness about the fate of children in conflict zones, marginalized communities, and those facing exclusion, and to understand that war, regardless of time or place, always brings the same tragic consequences.
Performance "Huljet, huljet" by Teatr Figur Kraków, presented at the Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s Pharmacy as part of the Krakow Ghetto exhibition
"Huljet, huljet" is a poetic story about life in the Krakow ghetto. Inspired by photographs and diaries from the ghetto, the theatrical installation is performed as a shadow theater, with each story unfolding on a different "stage" — in old suitcases, medicine boxes, a child's crib and on a table.
The main inspiration for the performance came from several photos from the permanent exhibition at the Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum: a lonely young child on an empty street, piles of broken furniture on Concord Square, an ice cream shop sign and a concert poster. What might the world have looked like through the eyes of a 4-year-old? What games did they play? What did they dream about?
Workshop "Dzieciństwo w getcie" (Childhood in the Ghetto)
The fate of children during World War II often evokes strong emotions. This is particularly evident when we realize that many children, aged 9-10, had to bear the responsibility of supporting their families in the ghetto. One could say they were forced to grow up overnight due to hunger, death and suffering.
The workshop aims to highlight the experiences of Jewish children during the Holocaust, encouraging students to reflect on their lives, daily struggles, dreams – and their deaths.
- Conducted by Jan Jakub Grabowski.
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center. Activity is available in Polish only.
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "Tadeusz Pankiewicz's Pharmacy in Kraków Ghetto"
- Registration required and admission ticket needed.
- Activity is available in Polish and English.
Lecture "Przecież nie mogę ich narażać" (I can’t endanger them): escapees from the Krakow ghetto
When the German occupation authorities established the so-called "residential district" for Krakow's Jews in Podgórze in March 1941, few could have foreseen that this persecution would lead to the extermination of entire Jewish communities. Despite anti-Jewish regulations and daily violence, the ghetto residents did everything to survive, but only a few chose to escape beyond the ghetto walls. This lecture will tell the stories of those who managed to flee the ghetto, explaining the circumstances that led to their decisions, the methods of escape, and the lives of escapees on the so-called "Aryan side", as well as the attitudes of non-Jewish locals toward Jews trying to save their lives.
- Conducted by Katarzyna Kocik.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Educational walk with Andrzej Chytkowski following the path of victims deported from the Krakow ghetto to the Bełżec death camp (Ghetto Heroes Square – Kraków Płaszów Station), including a symbolic commemoration of Krakow’s Holocaust victims.
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Evening with Kroke Gebirtig "Jak lokalnie dbać o pamięć o krakowskich ofiarach Zagłady?" (How to locally preserve the memory of Krakow's Holocaust victims?)
A meeting with Anna and Maria Jeziorny, who will talk about their work in the Mordechai Gebirtig Poetic Workshop. The event will conclude with students from Podgórze schools reading several poems by Mordechai Gebirtig, a Krakow poet who was murdered during the Holocaust.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Workshop "Jak spakować życie do walizki?" (How to pack your life into a suitcase?)
During this workshop, we will seek answers to the question: what is truly important when faced with conflict, natural disasters or life-threatening situations? Do we know how to act in such moments, and what should we prepare in advance? We will look at examples of deportations, expulsions and resettlements from both the past and present (Syria, Ukraine).
The workshop will include active group work, followed by a discussion on minimalism and whether it is better to "have more" or "be more".
- Conducted by Katarzyna Odrzywołek
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Workshop "Przerwane dzieciństwo" (Interrupted childhood)
This workshop will reflect on childhood experiences during World War II and contemporary conflicts. Participants will create three photo albums. The first will depict our own childhoods. For the second, we will travel back in time to the period of Krakow's occupation (1939-1945), examining the stories of Jewish children who lived in the Podgórze ghetto or were sent to KL Plaszow. The third album will reveal photographs and personal stories of children affected by modern conflicts in Ukraine, Syria and Somalia.
The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the importance of the fundamental values in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and how we can contribute to defending the youngest victims. The goal is to raise moral awareness about the fate of children in conflict zones, marginalized communities, and those facing exclusion, and to understand that war, regardless of time or place, always brings the same tragic consequences.
- Conducted by Katarzyna Odrzywołek.
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Performance "Huljet, huljet" by Teatr Figur Kraków, presented at the Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s Pharmacy as part of the Krakow Ghetto exhibition
"Huljet, huljet" is a poetic story about life in the Krakow ghetto. Inspired by photographs and diaries from the ghetto, the theatrical installation is performed as a shadow theater, with each story unfolding on a different "stage" — in old suitcases, medicine boxes, a child's crib and on a table.
The main inspiration for the performance came from several photos from the permanent exhibition at the Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum: a lonely young child on an empty street, piles of broken furniture on Concord Square, an ice cream shop sign and a concert poster. What might the world have looked like through the eyes of a 4-year-old? What games did they play? What did they dream about?
- Registration required.
18th-20th October: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory
18th October (Friday, 10:00 – 11:30)
Workshop "Współpraca jest konieczna dla uwolnienia ludzkości od tej ohydnej klęski. Czy jesteśmy w stanie coś zrobić, by przeciwdziałać nienawiści, wojnom i ludobójstwom?" (Cooperation is required in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge. Can we do anything to counter hatred, wars and genocides?)
The title of the workshop is drawn from the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Based on this document, we will consider how effective — if at all —the measures taken by the international community have been in preventing a catastrophe on the scale of World War II from recurring. We will also examine, using G. Allport’s Pyramid of Hate and G. Stanton’s scale, what we as individuals and smaller groups can do to avoid embarking on the path of fighting against otherness, which can ultimately lead to wars, crimes and genocides.
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945"
18th October (Friday, 14:00 – 16:00)
Cooking workshop – Ukrainian, Belarusian and Middle Eastern cuisine
In response to the large number of refugees from Ukraine and the Arabian Peninsula arriving in Krakow, we offer a glimpse into part of these nations' heritage — food. In addition to enjoying the food and spending time together, there will be brief lectures on how individuals from these countries came to Poland and Krakow.
18th October (Friday, 18:00 – 19:30)
"Kijów – Lwów – Kraków… Muzea w wojnie, muzea o wojnie" (Kyiv – Lviv – Krakow… Museums at war, museums about war)
A panel discussion with cultural institution and museum directors: Yurii Savchuk (Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv) and Roman Chmelyk (Lviv Historical Museum). The discussion will be moderated by Jacek Salwiński, the Deputy Director of the Museum of Kraków.
The panel will address the current and future situation of Ukrainian and Polish museums and cultural institutions in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Topics include the state of museums in Kyiv and Lviv between 2022-2024: the direct threat to these cities from the Russian invasion following the outbreak of full-scale war and the ongoing bombings. The directors will discuss how museum collections and elements of Ukraine’s cultural heritage were secured during the first weeks of the war, cooperation with Polish museums and institutions in evacuating collections, and how these museums maintained operations during the conflict.
Representing the Museum of Kraków, Jacek Salwiński will discuss the actions taken in the first weeks of the war to assist refugees and how both institutions adapted their programming to accommodate the large Ukrainian minority in Poland.
The final part of the panel discussion will address the future of the museums, particularly those focusing on the history of wars in both countries, and their role in educating and preserving the heritage of the ongoing war with Russia. The discussion will also explore the shared experience and heritage of the war from the perspectives of both Ukraine and Poland.
Topics covered:
The discussion will be held in Polish (possibly with Ukrainian translation), and will be streamed online via social media channels of the Museum of Krakow.
19th October (Saturday, 13:00 – 15:00)
Classical music performance (clarinet/string duo)
A performance of classical music in the space concluding the permanent exhibition "Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945" (Room of Choices).
Panel with war correspondents "Widziałem to na własne oczy: bliskie wschody" (I saw it with my own eyes: Middle Eastern fronts)
A meeting with war correspondents Mateusz Lachowski and Michał Zieliński discussing the reporting of wars by correspondents in the 21st century, with a special focus on Ukraine (2014-2024) and the Middle East.
19th October (Saturday, 18:00 – 20:00)
Screening of the documentary film "Everything Needs to Live" and a meeting with the directors and the main protagonist, Anna Kurkurina
"Everything Needs to Live" portrays the extraordinary daily life of Anna Kurkurina, a charismatic athlete, "the strongest woman in the world", an animal rights activist and an openly lesbian woman. From a young age, Anna demonstrated a unique bond with animals. She taught biology in school and worked at a local zoo, where she befriended a lion. She supported the creation of animal shelters and found new homes for dozens of stray animals. After turning 40, she decided to pursue a career in powerlifting and quickly reached the top, becoming a three-time world champion. She also began working as a coach for young people with disabilities. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anna, leveraging her popularity in the sports world and as an influencer, has continued helping injured and abandoned animals, following her motto: "Whoever saves one life, saves the whole world".
Yesterday Kharkiv and Kyiv – today Krakow, art workshop for families with children
The workshops will be led by Julia Rybińska, a war refugee from Kharkiv, and the director of culture and communication at the "Renovation" charitable foundation. During the first two months of the war and the shelling of the city, Julia spent most of her time in the Kharkiv metro with her children. Despite facing the dramatic situation and fear, Julia continued to work with children helping them to cope with the ongoing trauma through artistic expressions and drawings. During the workshops, in addition to showcasing works from Kharkiv, Julia will work with parents with children – both refugees and Polish children – on their current experiences in Krakow.
Meeting with Dr. Joanna Talewicz, president of the Foundation Towards Dialogue, who will give a
lecture on Romani refugees from Ukraine in Poland and the Foundation's activities
20th October: FINALE (18:30 – 20:00)
"Wołanie o pokój" (Cry for Peace) concert performed by the international choir, Jednym głosem, accompanied by poetry readings dedicated to wars and refugee
We invite you to a unique final concert, which serves as a reflective tribute to the victims of war and a cry for peace in the world, fostering memory and concern for the future of humanity.
The concert will feature life-affirming folk songs filled with emotions and stories passed down through generations. Many of the songwriters became victims of war and terror. The songs will be accompanied by poetry from countries affected by contemporary conflicts — Ukraine (Halyna Peteosaniak), Palestine (Refaat Alaereer), as well as Jewish (Yehuda Amichai), Russian-American (Joseph Brodsky) and Polish (Wisława Szymborska, Katarzyna Dybżyńska, Edmund Fetting) poets. These words, filled with pain and longing, but also with strength and will to live, will evoke the stories of people who experienced war firsthand, recounting everyday life interrupted by the sound of gunfire and the specter of destruction.
The "Wołanie o pokój" concert is an affirmation of life, a reminder that war is always a failure of humanity and a voice against indifference. It will be a gathering full of contrasts — where the beauty of music and poetry is intertwined with suffering and the joy of life collides with the drama of armed conflicts.
We invite you to join us in listening to this cry for peace and to remember that each of us has the power to oppose violence and hatred. Let this concert be a bridge of solidarity with those still suffering from war, and a call for a world where peace becomes our shared value.
Workshop "Współpraca jest konieczna dla uwolnienia ludzkości od tej ohydnej klęski. Czy jesteśmy w stanie coś zrobić, by przeciwdziałać nienawiści, wojnom i ludobójstwom?" (Cooperation is required in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge. Can we do anything to counter hatred, wars and genocides?)
The title of the workshop is drawn from the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Based on this document, we will consider how effective — if at all —the measures taken by the international community have been in preventing a catastrophe on the scale of World War II from recurring. We will also examine, using G. Allport’s Pyramid of Hate and G. Stanton’s scale, what we as individuals and smaller groups can do to avoid embarking on the path of fighting against otherness, which can ultimately lead to wars, crimes and genocides.
- Condacted by Mateusz Zdeb.
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center.
- Activity is available in Polish only.
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition "Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945"
- Registration and entry ticket required.
- Activity is available in Polish and English.
18th October (Friday, 14:00 – 16:00)
Cooking workshop – Ukrainian, Belarusian and Middle Eastern cuisine
In response to the large number of refugees from Ukraine and the Arabian Peninsula arriving in Krakow, we offer a glimpse into part of these nations' heritage — food. In addition to enjoying the food and spending time together, there will be brief lectures on how individuals from these countries came to Poland and Krakow.
- Conducted by Agata Dębek-Dziwosz and Rami Muszyński.
- Activity is available in Polish and English.
18th October (Friday, 18:00 – 19:30)
"Kijów – Lwów – Kraków… Muzea w wojnie, muzea o wojnie" (Kyiv – Lviv – Krakow… Museums at war, museums about war)
A panel discussion with cultural institution and museum directors: Yurii Savchuk (Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv) and Roman Chmelyk (Lviv Historical Museum). The discussion will be moderated by Jacek Salwiński, the Deputy Director of the Museum of Kraków.
The panel will address the current and future situation of Ukrainian and Polish museums and cultural institutions in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Topics include the state of museums in Kyiv and Lviv between 2022-2024: the direct threat to these cities from the Russian invasion following the outbreak of full-scale war and the ongoing bombings. The directors will discuss how museum collections and elements of Ukraine’s cultural heritage were secured during the first weeks of the war, cooperation with Polish museums and institutions in evacuating collections, and how these museums maintained operations during the conflict.
Representing the Museum of Kraków, Jacek Salwiński will discuss the actions taken in the first weeks of the war to assist refugees and how both institutions adapted their programming to accommodate the large Ukrainian minority in Poland.
The final part of the panel discussion will address the future of the museums, particularly those focusing on the history of wars in both countries, and their role in educating and preserving the heritage of the ongoing war with Russia. The discussion will also explore the shared experience and heritage of the war from the perspectives of both Ukraine and Poland.
Topics covered:
- The situation and activities of four cultural institutions — Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Lviv Historical Museum, Museum of Kraków and — during 2022-2024, focusing on the war in Ukraine, assistance to refugees and adaptation to the new situation.
- The role of state and municipal museums and cultural institutions in safeguarding heritage and educational activities related to the war against Russia and the situation of the Ukrainian minority in Poland.
- Challenges facing institutions from both Ukrainian (war-torn) and Polish (refugee influx) perspectives, opportunities for interinstitutional and international cooperation, and the future prospects of cultural institutions during the ongoing conflict.
The discussion will be held in Polish (possibly with Ukrainian translation), and will be streamed online via social media channels of the Museum of Krakow.
19th October (Saturday, 13:00 – 15:00)
Classical music performance (clarinet/string duo)
A performance of classical music in the space concluding the permanent exhibition "Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945" (Room of Choices).
- Activity open to all visitors.
Panel with war correspondents "Widziałem to na własne oczy: bliskie wschody" (I saw it with my own eyes: Middle Eastern fronts)
A meeting with war correspondents Mateusz Lachowski and Michał Zieliński discussing the reporting of wars by correspondents in the 21st century, with a special focus on Ukraine (2014-2024) and the Middle East.
19th October (Saturday, 18:00 – 20:00)
Screening of the documentary film "Everything Needs to Live" and a meeting with the directors and the main protagonist, Anna Kurkurina
"Everything Needs to Live" portrays the extraordinary daily life of Anna Kurkurina, a charismatic athlete, "the strongest woman in the world", an animal rights activist and an openly lesbian woman. From a young age, Anna demonstrated a unique bond with animals. She taught biology in school and worked at a local zoo, where she befriended a lion. She supported the creation of animal shelters and found new homes for dozens of stray animals. After turning 40, she decided to pursue a career in powerlifting and quickly reached the top, becoming a three-time world champion. She also began working as a coach for young people with disabilities. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anna, leveraging her popularity in the sports world and as an influencer, has continued helping injured and abandoned animals, following her motto: "Whoever saves one life, saves the whole world".
- Movie will be screened in original language with the Polish subtitles.
Yesterday Kharkiv and Kyiv – today Krakow, art workshop for families with children
The workshops will be led by Julia Rybińska, a war refugee from Kharkiv, and the director of culture and communication at the "Renovation" charitable foundation. During the first two months of the war and the shelling of the city, Julia spent most of her time in the Kharkiv metro with her children. Despite facing the dramatic situation and fear, Julia continued to work with children helping them to cope with the ongoing trauma through artistic expressions and drawings. During the workshops, in addition to showcasing works from Kharkiv, Julia will work with parents with children – both refugees and Polish children – on their current experiences in Krakow.
- The workshops will be conducted bilingually in Polish and Ukrainian.
- Fee: 20 PLN
- Registration required at the Visitor center.
Meeting with Dr. Joanna Talewicz, president of the Foundation Towards Dialogue, who will give a
lecture on Romani refugees from Ukraine in Poland and the Foundation's activities
- Activity is available in Polish only.
20th October: FINALE (18:30 – 20:00)
"Wołanie o pokój" (Cry for Peace) concert performed by the international choir, Jednym głosem, accompanied by poetry readings dedicated to wars and refugee
We invite you to a unique final concert, which serves as a reflective tribute to the victims of war and a cry for peace in the world, fostering memory and concern for the future of humanity.
The concert will feature life-affirming folk songs filled with emotions and stories passed down through generations. Many of the songwriters became victims of war and terror. The songs will be accompanied by poetry from countries affected by contemporary conflicts — Ukraine (Halyna Peteosaniak), Palestine (Refaat Alaereer), as well as Jewish (Yehuda Amichai), Russian-American (Joseph Brodsky) and Polish (Wisława Szymborska, Katarzyna Dybżyńska, Edmund Fetting) poets. These words, filled with pain and longing, but also with strength and will to live, will evoke the stories of people who experienced war firsthand, recounting everyday life interrupted by the sound of gunfire and the specter of destruction.
The "Wołanie o pokój" concert is an affirmation of life, a reminder that war is always a failure of humanity and a voice against indifference. It will be a gathering full of contrasts — where the beauty of music and poetry is intertwined with suffering and the joy of life collides with the drama of armed conflicts.
We invite you to join us in listening to this cry for peace and to remember that each of us has the power to oppose violence and hatred. Let this concert be a bridge of solidarity with those still suffering from war, and a call for a world where peace becomes our shared value.
The event is co-financed by the Polish History Museum in Warsaw as part of the "Patriotism of Tomorrow" program.
