Minister of Culture Hanna Wróblewska appointed Dr. hab. Marcin Napiórkowski as director of the Polish Historical Museum in Warsaw. He claims that a new opening for this facility is needed. This opinion was confirmed by director Napiórkowski, who said that “in Poland we really need a gathering of political diversity.” “Different research perspectives on history. Different stories about the past that will give us different visions of the present and the future,” emphasizes Napiórkowski, a cultural expert associated with “Krytyka Polityczna”. The previous director was dismissed during his term of office, and the former Minister of Culture, Prof. Piotr Gliński emphasizes that this is the 24th head of the institution to be dismissed in violation of the law.
READ ALSO: Prof. Gliński: Robert Kostro is the 24th director to be unfairly dismissed during his term of office. Democracy does not function in Poland
When asked about the reasons for removing Robert Kostra from the post of director of the Polish Historical Museum, Wróblewska pointed to “violation of the law on organizing and conducting cultural activities in the field of effective management of property.”
I would also like to add that after 18 years of construction and over 1 billion PLN, we still have another 700 million PLN to spend. We need an objective and rational view of the financial economy. We need people who are less used to spending such large sums of money. We need a new beginning
– said Mrs. Wróblewska.
The Polish Historical Museum is not, will not be and should not be, a museum with one permanent exhibition. MHP is a Polish museum and a social institution. And here lies a huge opportunity to work together – for us and for you
– said the head of the Ministry of Culture, who also appointed Jan Zajączkowski as the minister’s plenipotentiary for the construction of the MHP.
For me, the construction of the MHP is not only about completing this investment and fully opening it, but of course about building a permanent exhibition.
– Wróblewska emphasized.
READ ALSO: ONLY WITH US. Robert Kostro: If CEOs Are Punished For Not Spending At All Costs, It Will Block Their Decision Making
New director – “diverse stories about the past”
Introducing the new director of the facility, Wróblewska stressed that his responsibilities included: “an analysis of changes in contemporary Polish memory culture and the issue of depolarization and building bridges across political divisions.”
He led national and international research projects in the field of memory, collective imagination and storytelling. He is the author of much-discussed and award-winning books
– said the head of the Ministry of Culture
I agreed to take on this difficult role not because I felt like something bad was going on in this museum and now we need to replace something and make some revolutions. Exactly the opposite. I agreed because I feel like it’s a great place where we’ve managed to gather an exceptional team. I can’t wait to be part of this team and add my energy and enthusiasm to what’s already happening
– the new director repeated to her and convinced her that he had a new idea for the functioning of such an important institution.
I must admit that it was a very difficult decision for me, because I have a deep feeling that what has already been built in the Polish Historical Museum is incredibly close to this vision. That this is the space – which today in Poland we really need a meeting of political diversity, but also of different research perspectives on history. Different stories about the past that will give us different visions of the present and the future
– Napiórkowski announced.
Teamwork or Living in a country where we are different is difficult and often makes us angry. But the potential that gives us the chance to work with someone who is different from us, the potential that gives us the chance to talk to a neighbour who has different political views, can release enormous energy in us. I hope that my previous research and project management experience – and my character traits, which are visible at first glance – will enable me to go through the next phase with this institution that it needs today. I would like this diversity, this wealth of vision, to be concentrated in a powerful laser beam; energy that will enable us to reach first the immediate neighbourhood, to Warsaw, to the whole of Poland, and then “the sky is the limit”, to the whole world
– said Napiórkowski.
The dismissal of the current director of the MHP was justified by the Minister of Culture, Hanna Wróblewska, because he had not spent all the budget funds. At today’s conference, she stated that the MHP needs a “rational view of the financial economy”. Would it be a more rational financial approach to pay the contractor, despite the delays caused? Such a decision would lead to prosecution of former director Robert Kostra. It is difficult to resist the impression that the reasons for the dismissal are clear, and the fundamental problem is the change in the profile of the MHP’s activities. It should be provided by someone who has ties to left-liberal political circles.
READ ALSO: Are they in such a hurry? The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has already chosen a new director of the Ministry of Health. Earlier, the ministry decided to dismiss Robert Kostra unlawfully
koala/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.