Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski expressed his anger and astonishment at the decision of the National Museum in Warsaw to close its permanent exhibitions due to lack of funds.

As of today, the Museum closes doors to its galleries of ancient and medieval art, and of Polish and European painting. 

 “Plainly speaking I was furious when I found out about the decision,” Minister Zdrojewski told Polish Radio.

”I know well the situation at the Museum and there is nothing to support this move, that is why my intervention was immediate. I am now looking into the funds of the Museum, which haven’t been used yet and which will allow for its continued operation. There are no obstacles for the permanent shows to be available on the same grounds as they were.”

The National Museum informed that while it was closing its permanent exhibitions it would keep open a presentation devoted to Chopin and allow planned group visits.

The move comes days  after Director of the National Museum Piotr Piotrowski handed in his resignation.

Prominent art historian Agnieszka Morawinska has been recommended by the Minister of Culture as a new director of the National Museum. Her candidature has to be approved by the Museum’s Board of Trustees, which is scheduled to meet on 28 October. It is headed by Jack Lohman, the director of the Museum of London.

Opposition Law and Justice MPs are meeting to consider the government’s policy on culture and ways of support for the National Museum. (ek/mk)