The Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola was established in 1999. It is a self-governing cultural institution registered in the National Register of Museums. It operates in three historic buildings, which have undergone comprehensive revitalization and modernization for the purpose of cultural activities. Since 2022 it has been a branch museum. The main seat of the museum since 2002 has been located in the 18th-century Lubomirski Castle. Educational and conference and exhibition space has been organized there. The attic houses the permanent exhibition, modernized in 2015-2016, entitled. “Rozwadów Station. Between Lviv and Krakow.” Its content refers to the past of the former town of Rozwadów (now a settlement of Stalowa Wola) shown against the background of the history of the Lower Nadsanie region. The second floor is a space for temporary exhibitions, mainly in the field of art, history, ethnography and archaeology.
In 2019, the Alphonse Karpinski Painting Gallery, the only permanent exhibition in Poland dedicated to this Rozwadow-born Young Poland artist, was established in the former court building. The exhibition features almost 80 of his works, the vast majority of which come from the collections of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola. The program of temporary exhibitions mainly focuses on exhibitions relating to the work of Alphonse Karpinski, and also deals with ancient and contemporary art. The Gallery also hosts the “Karpinski” Drawing and Painting School, where children and young people, under the guidance of qualified teachers, deepen their creativity and develop their skills in art techniques.
The Central Industrial District Museum has been operating since 2022 in the building of the former school workshops, built in the 1950s. In addition to the permanent esposition “Central Industrial District. The Birth of Innovative Industry in Poland” with many references to Stalowa Wola’s past, a section titled ”The City. “The City” dedicated to children and the riddle room ‘The extinguished star of the CID – the occupation,’ the facility also houses educational and temporary exhibition rooms, which mainly present expositions devoted to the history of the city and the achievements of science and technology.
1995 year
The Social Committee for the Establishment of a Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola has been formed. The President of Stalowa Wola, Andrzej Gajec, appointed Lucyna Mizera as a plenipotentiary to take over the collection and establish the museum.
1997 year
The decision was made to establish the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola and its statute was passed. The museum organized the first few exhibitions in the halls of the Municipal House of Culture.
1998 year
With a notarial deed, Rev. Prof. Wilhelm Gaj-Piotrowski donated his rich collection, including historical exhibits, ethnographic items, numismatic items, works of art, documents, books – all related to the Lower Silesia region, and in particular to the former town of Rozwadów, the priest’s home village of Charzewice and neighboring villages, to the city for use in the Museum.
1999 year
The Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola was established as an independent cultural institution. Lucyna Mizera became director as a result of the competition. The President of Stalowa Wola, Alfred Rzegocki, together with the City Council, decided to allocate and renovate the historic building at 1 Sandomierska Street for the museum.
2002 year
The grand opening of the museum’s new headquarters, with a permanent exhibition: “From the history of the San River region” and temporary exhibitions, as well as a restaurant on the first floor of the building.
The first edition of the Self-Portrait art contest for art school students and pupils. Creation of the first website of the Museum www.muzeum.stalowawola.pl
In the ministerial competition “Museum Event of the Year 2002 Sibyl”, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola received the second prize in the category of achievements in the field of organization for the arrangement of the seat in the renovated 18th-century Lubomirski Castle.
2003 year
Launch of the cross-border program “The future grows out of common roots. Cultural heritage as a factor of integration of societies and development of regions” – jointly with Ukraine and Slovakia.
2004 year
Investment works around the building were carried out, the historic greenery establishment was restored, and a stylish fence was built.
2005 year
The Museum was entered in the State Register of Museums (To confirm the high level of substantive activity and the importance of the collections, and to record museums that meet these conditions, the Minister of Culture maintains the State Register of Museums – from the Law on Museums). For the first time, the Museum joined the European action Night of Museums
2006 year
The educational program “Tourist Route of Lubomirski Family Seats” was created, for which the Museum received in the ministerial contest “Museum Event of the Year 2006 Sibilla” the first prize and a statuette of Sibilla in the category of educational, educational and promotional programs; moreover, it received the third prize in the category of ethnographic exhibitions for the exhibition “Culture of Galician Jews” and a distinction in the category of achievements in the field of scientific activity for the publication “Archeology of the Sandomierz Basin”. – The fourth monographic issue of the Yearbook of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola. The Museum purchased the building of the Hutnik Hotel.
2007 year
New permanent exhibitions were created: on the initiative of President Andrzej Szlęzak, a large multimedia exhibition “CID for the future. People – industry – architecture” in the hall of the former school workshops at 17 Hutnicza St. In addition: an intimate exhibition ‘Birth of Stalowa Wola 1938’, in the premises of the Hutnik Hotel at 12 Kard. Wyszyńskiego St.; an outdoor exhibition of sculptures for tactile perception ‘Gallery by Touch’ in the Museum courtyard. An open-air photographic exhibition was also arranged at Staszica Street, next to the Ballada cinema, with special lighting to allow visiting after dark. Implementation of the educational program “On the trail of art dėco architecture Stalowa Wola, Lviv” was launched. In the competition “Museum Event of the Year 2007 Sybil”, the Museum received the first prize and the Sybil statuette in the category of historical, biographical and literary exhibitions for the exposition “CID for the Future” and also two distinctions: in the category of educational, educational and promotional programs for the educational program for visually impaired people “Gallery by Touch” and in the category of achievements in the field of management and organization for the organization in the premises of the Hutnik Hotel of the permanent exhibition “Birth of Stalowa Wola 1938”.
2008 year
“Gallery by Touch” has expanded with another set of sculptures. Activities to adapt the museum’s offer to the needs of people with disabilities continued: a self-propelled platform was installed at the stairs, toilets were rebuilt, and thresholds in the doors to exhibition halls were eliminated. The museum’s cafeteria has also changed its appearance. The Art Education Center, established at the Museum, has prepared a wide range of classes for people with various dysfunctions. The exhibition “In the Shadow of the Roman Empire” won second place in the competition “Museum Event of the Year 2008 Sibyl” in the category of archaeological exhibitions.
2009 year
The museum celebrated its 10th anniversary.
A series of exhibitions of contemporary Polish design was launched. These exhibitions represented Poland at international festivals or events promoting our country abroad, including Brussels, London, Berlin, Venice, Milan. “Route of art déco architecture. Stalowa Wola, Lviv“ was among the finalists in the competition of the Ministry of Regional Development ‘Poland is getting more beautiful’ (”7 wonders of EU funds”). The Museum organized the first nationwide training course for museum professionals entitled “Disabled Guest in the Museum. “Disabled Guest in the Museum”.
2010 year
The permanent exhibition “From the history of the Nadsany region” has been enriched with modern educational animations, in the form of interactive games on touch screens.
A new interactive exhibition was created in the newly decorated educational room: “Feel the Art,” enabling sensory experience of art inspired by the folk culture of the Lasovia region.
The museum was awarded first prize in the “Poland Grows Beautiful” competition in the “Cross-border and International Tourism” category for the program “Accessible Museum. Integrated program for people with disabilities”.
In the Polish Internet competition organized in 2010 by The World Internet Foundation under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the website promoting the trail of déco architecture: www.it.stalowawola.pl, received three awards: first place twice: from the chapter and from Internet users in the Culture and Art category, and was also among the three absolute best of all contestants.
In the competition “Museum Event of the Year 2010 Sybil” the exhibition “Mikrus – a car that was not allowed to grow up” received the first prize and the Sybil statuette in the category of technology exhibitions. Meanwhile, the educational project “Interactive Space” and the archaeological exhibition “The Early Middle Ages” received nominations for the award.
The design exhibitions had further presentations abroad: “Polska Folk” opened the Polish Culture Week in Belfast, and ‘UNPOLISHED 2 – young design from Poland’ participated in the prestigious design festival DMY (Dayly, Monthly, Yearly) in Berlin.
2011 year
The Stalowa Wola Museum prepared the first exhibition in Poland after the war of works by Stefan Norblin (1892-1952), a descendant of a famous family of artists and industrialists, a versatile artist extremely popular in interwar Poland, and during and after the war creating in India and the USA. The opening of the exhibition was attended by distinguished guests, including the artist’s son from the USA, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Indian Ambassador to Poland, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, and museum professionals from India and Germany. The exhibition was accompanied by a catalog and album. At the end of the year, the exhibition was shown in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Design exhibitions were presented in more European cities (including Milan, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb) and Hong Kong.
The Regional Museum and the King Jan III Sobieski High School Complex No. 3 in Stalowa Wola initiated the activities of the Historians and Regionalists Club, which aims to spread knowledge about the region, shape patriotic attitudes and integrate various circles – teachers and schoolchildren, historians, lovers of the region.
The Museum published two editions of the first book on the Mikrus car in Poland.
The museum’s website was modified. There was a development of the museum’s promotion through social media.
In the annual competition “Museum Event of the Year. Sibyl” the Museum received a nomination in the art exhibition category for the exhibition ”Stefan Norblin (1892-1952). Versatile Artist,” and in the historical exhibition category a nomination for the project ”Two Views of a Woman in the Era of Socialist Realism: Mothers, Wives and… Tractor Women – or about Polish Women in Socialist Realism versus Letters from the Past.”
The museum was the winner of the “Pearls in the Crown of Podkarpackie Province 2011” plebiscite in the category of largest tourist attraction.
2012 year
In the year of the 75th anniversary of the start of construction of the Central Industrial District, the Museum organized a photographic exhibition “From Independence to Modernity. 75th Anniversary of CID” and an exhibition of avant-garde works by Jakub Woynarowski ‘In the air, on land and sea’ inspired by the history of Stalowa Wola. It was also co-organizer of the anniversary conference in the Column Hall of the Polish Parliament in Warsaw and co-editor of the post-conference materials “CID Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow”. In addition, it published Professor Marian Marek Drozdowski’s book Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski’s Investment Policy and the Construction of CID. Documents, memories, sketches.
Stalowa Wola’s research on the biography and works of Stefan Norblin resulted in more news. The year 2012 brought a sensational discovery: it turned out that, contrary to previous findings, the ashes of Stefan Norblin and his wife, Lena Żelichowska, were not scattered over a lake near San Francisco, but rest in urns in cemeteries around that city. The funeral ceremony took place in October 2012 and coincided with the opening of the exhibition “Art Out of Time. Stefan Norblin (1892-1952)” at the Wilanów Poster Museum, co-organized by the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.
During 2012, the museum showed 19 temporary exhibitions in its premises, including the first retrospective of Grzegorz Rosiński entitled “Grzegorz Rosiński. “Grzegorz Rosiński – master of illustration and comics”. The exhibition was accompanied by an art party with the participation of the artist, and an exhibition catalog was published. The Stalowa Wola exhibition was then shown at the Manggha Center for Japanese Technology and Culture. Another exhibition, also prepared by the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, was the archaeological exposition “Hunters, Farmers and Shepherds of the Stone Age,” together with a catalog.
In the previously undeveloped part of the exhibition hall at Hutnicza Street, a “Workshop Gallery” and an educational room were arranged. The first temporary exhibition in the new place was the nature exhibition “Birds of the Sea and Ice Lands” from the Cracow Natural History Museum.
The intimate exhibition “Birth of Stalowa Wola 1938”, exhibited since 2007 in the premises of the Hutnik Hotel at 12 Kard. Wyszyńskiego Street, was closed.
New sculptures have appeared in the courtyard: ceramic works by Slawomir Pawelec, a deaf sculptor, entitled “The Birth of Stalowa Wola. Counterpoint V.I. The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by a meeting with the artist and a panel discussion on art therapy. Soon they were joined by works by Michal Batkiewicz (including monumental Angels).
Guided tours of Stalowa Wola have become a new addition to the museum, and have become very popular. For the youngest, however, a special attraction in 2012 was the “Interactive Playground” from Wroclaw, exhibited at the beginning of the year.
The museum’s design series featured the exhibition “What are you braiding? Braid in utilitarian objects, art and architecture”. Meanwhile, the Stalowa Wola exhibition “Unpolished” was shown in more cities in Europe (Helsinki, Toulouse, Bucharest) and Asia (Seoul), and “Ordinary Thing / Just a Thing” was viewed by residents of St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Lviv. “Childhood”, in turn, was shown in Poznan.
2013 year
The year of the 75th anniversary of Stalowa Wola ended another stage of research on the subject of the city, the culmination of which were the exhibitions: an open-air one entitled. “Stalowa Wola 1938 in the lens of Bronislaw Rudzinski” and the exhibition presented in the workshop hall at 17 Hutnicza Street in November: “Exemplary city: Stalowa Wola”. In addition, an outdoor exhibition of photographs by Yohann Lepage on the theme of Stalowa Wola was organized: “Lighthouse of the East.” The exhibition “Sport in the Second Republic” also had a jubilee character.
A new proposal of the Museum became meetings under the slogan “Let’s respect the memories”, being a platform for cooperation between the Museum and city residents. During the meetings, topics from Stalowa Wola’s past were discussed, and participants supplemented the topic with their own accounts and sharing of private memorabilia (photos and archives to be scanned).
In the field of education, a novelty was the project “E-Grosik. A didactic publication for children integrated with animation and educational activities”, allowing to convey the basics of knowledge on economic issues to children in an attractive, modern form.
Continuing its work on the life and work of Stefan Norblin, the Museum organized a two-day international scientific conference “Stefan Norblin. Artist of Three Continents” (7-8.11).
Completed in 2013 several years of research on the history of the Rozwadów Jewish community, publishing the results in the book “Jew, my neighbor. Dialogue of cultures in pre-war Rozwadów”.
In autumn 2013, the location of the museum’s outdoor exhibition changed: from under the “Ballada” cinema, it was moved in front of the newly opened Inter-University Library building on Popiełuszki Street.
At the end of the year, the Museum published the first “Guide to old Rozwadów”, combining the qualities of a tourist guide and a concise historical study.
In 2013, the project “Museum without Barriers” – a coalition of Polish and Ukrainian museums for professional service to the disabled visitor – was launched as part of the Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2007-2013 Transboundary Cooperation Program.
In 2013, the Museum showed 23 temporary exhibitions at its home, including sculptures by Pawel Erazmus, stained glass by Adam Stalony-Dobrzanski, satirical drawings by Jacek Kawa, paintings by Anna Bilinska, the ethnographic exhibition “A Thread of Colorful Yarn,” and others. Three design exhibitions prepared by the Museum were presented abroad (Italy, Austria, Ukraine, France).
In the national competition VISIBLE MUSEUM organized by the National Institute of Museology and Collections Protection (NIMOZ), the Museum took third place in the temporary exhibition identification category for the exhibition Unpolished – young design from Poland.
2014 year
Ethnographic research devoted to folk handicrafts in the field of natural dyeing and traditional embroidery bore fruit in the form of the exhibition “Yarn of Colorful Thread… The Amazing World of Colors in Folk Tradition,” as well as publications and four documentary films and educational animations.
In the year of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, the History Department conducted research on the course of hostilities in the region, resulting in the preparation of two exhibitions (a historical one in the museum building and an outdoor photographic exhibition in the urban space) and the publication “World War I on the Lower San River.” Also the result of its own research was an outdoor exhibition “Like a scout – forever”, dedicated to the Rozwadowski scouting movement.
The museum has published more than a dozen items, including a monumental scientific monograph “Stalowa Wola. European modernist city” devoted to the city’s architectural heritage. The second volume of the “Regional Biographical Dictionary” and the pioneering study “World War I on the San River” were also published.
The second edition of the Days of Design in Stalowa Wola under the slogan “Space friendly to all” took place. A series of events related to the popularization of architecture and design consisted of several exhibitions, publications, conferences and the educational program “Code of Architecture”.
A series of “Touch History” meetings was initiated for history enthusiasts, prepared jointly with the Podkarpackie Association of Seekers “Save from Forgetting”, offering, among other things, direct contact with monuments and collectors.
As part of the continuation of the “Museum without Barriers” project – a coalition of Polish and Ukrainian museums for professional service to the disabled visitor, an Internet portal was created, and a series of training courses was conducted.
An interdisciplinary scientific conference “From the Past of the City of Rozwadów” dedicated to Rev. Prof. Wilhelm Gaj-Piotrowski on the 90th anniversary of his birth was organized.
Free space in the building at 17 Hutnicza Street was adapted for the arrangement of a new temporary exhibition gallery.
The museum showed 21 temporary exhibitions, most of which were its own.
In the competition for Museum Event of the Year Sibyl 2014, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola received two awards: for the exhibition “Made in Poland” in the category of historical exhibitions and for the educational program “Code of Architecture”. The “Made in Poland” exhibition also received an honorable mention in the Historical Event of the Year 2014 poll.
The publication entitled. “World War I on the San” received the award of the City of Stalowa Wola ‘Twig of Pine’, and the publication ”Stalowa Wola. European modernist city” was among the nominated publications.
Annually, the museum is visited by an average of 16,700 visitors. About 500 museum lessons a year are held for young people, book publications, exhibition catalogs, folders, educational materials, guidebooks, CDs – a dozen titles a year are published. The museum has launched four websites.
The museum hosts scientific conferences, seminars, training courses, including international ones.
Exhibitions are accompanied by music concerts, film screenings, performances, author meetings, competitions are held. The museum has developed and launched two thematic cultural trails: “Route of Lubomirski family nests” (Poland – Slovakia – Ukraine) and ‘Route of art déco architecture’ (Stalowa Wola, Lviv).
Visitors to the museum can purchase publications and souvenirs in the museum’s self-service store and relax in the stylish Art Cafe restaurant or café garden.
2015 year
Time to summarize the past year. More than 17 temporary exhibitions, 18 publications, 4 outdoor events, 7 national and 2 international projects, 5 awards. We carried out projects that were both a continuation of projects initiated in previous years, as well as completely new ones.
We have come to the end of the more than two-year-long international project “Museums without Barriers”, which is a concrete well-thought-out, multifaceted and, above all, open initiative, grappling with the problem of making museums accessible to people with different types of disabilities. The project consisted of a survey on the adaptation of museums to the needs of people with disabilities, the results of which became the basis for subsequent activities; the “Culture without Barriers” Academy, within the framework of which specialists from Poland, Belgium and the UK developed innovative educational programs for people with disabilities, conducted a series of trainings and workshops for them and organized a training conference for museum employees; promotion, within the framework of which, among other things, an e-guide to accessible museums and a mobile phone application were created; the Coalition for Professional Service to the Disabled Visitor. We carried out the project in cooperation with the Polish Association of the Blind in Warsaw, the Andrzej Szeptycki National Museum in Lviv and the Lviv Historical Museum.
We continued knitting related to architectural education. As part of the inclusive “I am changing the city” project, a series of meetings based on interaction between different age and social groups was held in Stalowa Wola in May and June. Creative breakfasts and workshops with the participation of residents (including design thinking and prototyping workshops), architecture students and lecturers were aimed at effectively involving Stalowa Wola residents in solving the most crucial problems of the urban space close to them, and thus contemporary social challenges. We presented the results of these activities in October during the Third Design Days at the exhibition “Reclaiming the Beauty of Modernism.” October’s Design Days, as every year, brought together mainly younger audiences for concerts, exhibitions, lectures and workshops. There was no shortage of special projects for children.
Among the temporary exhibitions, the most popular were: “Teodor Axentowicz – Polish Armenian in Paris, Krakow, Zakopane…”, ‘Masterpieces of Japanese art in Polish collections’ and ”Kossaks – what a success, what a popularity, a hail of honors, honors.
We also presented our exhibitions abroad: “Polished Up in Prague! Designblok Festival. Prague Design and Fashion Week, an exhibition of works by Pavel Grobelny at the Wanted Design Festival in New York, and “Moderna. Industry + Craft.” as part of Helsinki Design Week
Visitors can use the museum’s store, where publications and souvenirs can be purchased. There is also an Art Cafe restaurant in the museum building.
2016 year
The Museum conducts extensive exhibition, educational and publishing activities in Poland and abroad. Last year we prepared 24 temporary exhibitions, 4 permanent exhibitions, 9 temporary exhibitions presented in Poland and 4 temporary exhibitions presented abroad. In addition, we organized 7 outdoor events, and carried out projects aimed at promoting local history and traditions and educating both children and adults. The museum issued 9 publications.
The Museum’s collections were enriched with new valuable acquisitions and archives, such as the Lubomirski family’s carriage and the album of the construction of the Turbi airfield from the World War II period.
Our staff conducted research work on issues related to the history of the region, such as those devoted to the history of the “Sokol” Gymnastic Society in Rozwadów (the result is a publication entitled. “Gymnastic Society “Sokol” in Rozwadów, Tarnobrzeg and Machów on the 110th anniversary of the Rozwadów nest”), Tadeusz Gajda ‘Tarzan’ troop (the research resulted in an outdoor exhibition in the Rozwadów market square entitled ‘They fought for the Poland they believed in – Tarzan’s soldiers’). Research work on World War I on the San River and the work of Alphonse Karpinski and Stefan Norblin also continued. A research study on the Church of Our Lady of the Scapular in Rozwadów was prepared (a film and an outdoor exhibition entitled “Treasures of the Rozwadów Parish Church” were produced).
We continue the cycle “Let’s respect the memories”. In 2016, 6 such meetings were held in the S. Norblin room at the Hutnik Hotel, where residents of Stalowa Wola shared with us their memories and interesting photographs related to our city. 2016 also saw the launch of the website www.stalowowlanie.pl, which features stories of people connected with Stalowa Wola and numerous photographs. This is the aftermath of the great “Stalowa Wola people” project implemented by our Museum.
We also implemented a project in the field of environmental education entitled “City and Forest.” Within its framework, there were nature excursions in the vicinity of Stalowa Wola, lectures, museum lessons and art workshops, an educational action combined with hanging bird nesting boxes in the city and a family competition for the most beautiful feeder.
The year 2016 was full of outdoor events, which were very popular with the public. As every year, the Museum became very actively involved in the international Night of Museums. In addition to the many exhibitions made available to visitors free of charge, there were creative art workshops, a night historical tour of Rozwadów – a district of Stalowa Wola, and two wonderful outdoor concerts: by Anna Maria Jopek with the Kroke band and Hanna Banaszak.
As part of the cyclical event “Cultural Rozwadów”, we organized an Archeological Fair on the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland. The event was accompanied by historical demonstrations by reconstruction groups, re-enactments and shows, tastings of traditional medieval food, games and tournaments, workshops for families.
2017 year
Another year of hard work and great challenges is behind us. Today, however, we can take pride in the many successes and awards the Museum received for its activities in 2017. We received the main prize and the Sybil statuette in the 2017 Sybil Museum Event of the Year competition organised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage for the exhibition CID and the City. Modernity and Heritage in the natural and technical exhibitions category. Distinctions were awarded to: the Ring with an Eagle in the Crown exhibition in the historical and archaeological exhibition category and the City and Forest project in the education category.
The Museum carries out a wide range of exhibition, educational and publishing activities in Poland and abroad. In 2017, we prepared 14 new temporary exhibitions presented in Stalowa Wola, 13 temporary exhibitions presented in Poland and 6 temporary exhibitions shown abroad. In addition, we also carried out projects aimed at promoting local history and tradition and educating both children and adults. The Museum produced 11 publications.
The main theme guiding our activities last year was the 80th anniversary of the CID. It was to this anniversary that many of our activities were subordinated, and as their culmination we held a scientific conference entitled CID. Towards an Innovative Economy in Poland. Past, present, future, organised in cooperation with the Cracow University of Technology, Rzeszow University of Technology and the City of Stalowa Wola. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The conference brought together in our city many authorities in the field of industrial history, business, innovation, economics, education. Also as part of the CID anniversary celebrations, we organised a knowledge tournament about the Central Industrial District under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. It was attended by young people from many CID towns, such as Mielec, Pionki, Starachowice and, of course, Stalowa Wola. The idea of these celebrations also included the jubilee exhibition COP and the City. Modernity and heritage, which received recognition from the Sybil 2017 competition jury. As a complement to these activities, we prepared and carried out an educational programme, Urban Laboratory, bringing closer the times of the formation of CID and Stalowa Wola and promoting the urban and architectural ideas accompanying the builders. An important element of this project was the promotion of knowledge about Stalowa Wola and CID combined with building an identity among the participants, an awareness of the place where one lives.
This year we presented many temporary exhibitions, among which the most popular were: Wyspianski, City and Forest, World of Butterflies, Deities and Sacrifices. Animals of Ancient Egypt, Connect, Leonardo da Vinci’s Machines.
We have also shown our exhibitions abroad. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the IAM, we created the international exhibition Roundabout Baltic, which was presented at the Latvian National Museum of Art / Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Latvia, at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Vilnius (Lithuania) and at The Nordic House in Reykjavik (Iceland). In Berlin and Budapest, we presented the exhibition Elementarz polskiego projektowania. Altogether, these were seen by more than 10,000 people. The exhibitions shown in Poland were visited by more than 66,000 visitors.
The Museum’s collection was enriched by new valuable acquisitions and archives. These include memorabilia of the Lubomirski princely family, items belonging to Dr Eugeniusz Łazowski and Eng Malicki, CEO of HSW. The art department purchased the painting Portrait of a Man in Glasses by Alfons Karpiński, thereby enriching our collection of the artist’s works.
Museum staff also carried out research into issues relating to the history of the region, including the history of the village of Pławo and its inhabitants (the result is a publication entitled Tutaj stał mój dom. Project for Pławo and a temporary exhibition under the same title), the Tadeusz Gajda ‘Tarzan’ unit (the research resulted in an open-air exhibition in Rozwadów’s market square entitled They fought for the Poland they believed in – Tarzan’s soldiers). Research work was also continued on traces of the Great War on the Vistula and San Rivers and the work of Alfons Karpiński and Stefan Norblin, as well as on the history of Stalowa Wola against the background of other Copan towns. This research was presented in the form of a temporary exhibition Social Life in Old Stalowa Wola. Research and queries directed at searching for information, historical materials and documentation, iconographic material and other sources and publications about the CID were also conducted, also with the aim of creating a bibliography of the Central Industrial District.
A number of outdoor events took place in 2017, which were very popular with the public. As every year, the Museum became very actively involved in the international Night of Museums. In addition to the many exhibitions made available to visitors free of charge, there were creative art workshops, a historical tour of Stalowa Wola and two wonderful outdoor concerts: a performance by Leszek Możdżer and Hits from those years – a concert in tribute to the creators of the Central Industrial District performed by singers, musicians and dancers from Copenhagen towns.
There was also a second May Day event in Rozwadów entitled Welcome to May Day, honoured by the reenactment of a ‘living painting’ referring to Jan Matejko’s work The Constitution of the 3rd of May 1791. The staging was organised with the active participation of schoolchildren and the local community. The event ended with a joint singing of patriotic songs and well-known hits from the interwar period, performed at the time by, among others, Hanka Ordonówna.
In 2017, the entire offer of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola was used by 123,920 people in Poland and abroad, including 47,170 people in Stalowa Wola. More than 1,100 museum lessons, workshops and excursions for children and young people took place. There are book publications, exhibition catalogues, folders, educational materials, guides.
Our visitors can make use of the museum shop, where they can buy regional publications and souvenirs. A Tourist Information Point is in operation.
The year 2017 also resulted in the commencement of a major project co-financed from European Funds – the revalorisation of the historic building of the former c.k. County Court in Stalowa Wola for the needs of the Alfons Karpiński Painting Gallery. We have also begun work towards the creation of the Museum of the Central Industrial District.
2018 year
We had a very busy year in 2018. Our Museum was recognised in the 2018 Sibyl Museum Event of the Year Competition (organiser: Minister of Culture and National Heritage). We received an award for the exhibition We Built This City in the temporary exhibition category. The same exhibition was also recognised in the Historical Event of the Year 2018 Competition (organiser: Museum of Polish History), in which we also received a distinction in the exhibition category.
In the past year, we carried out undertakings that were both a continuation of projects initiated in previous years and completely new ones. The Museum produced 17 publications and organised 22 temporary exhibitions in Stalowa Wola, 5 exhibitions in Poland and 6 abroad. In addition, we also carried out projects aimed at promoting local history and tradition and educating both children and adults. Among them, the most successful exhibitions were: Wyspianski, Leonardo da Vinci’s Machines, Chinese Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army, Painter and his models Tadeusz Makowski. Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Matejko, The World of Senses and The World of Spiders.
The Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola has also shown its exhibitions abroad. Elementary Polish Design was exhibited at the NOD Makerspace/Mater in Bucharest (Romania) and during the Vienna Design Week, Sophienspital in Vienna (Austria). During Budapest Design Week (Budapest, (Hungary), Corals of Colour, Urban Prototyping and the In situ installation set up in the garden of Gyorgi Rath Villa were shown in October and November.
The museum’s activities in 2018 were guided by the main theme, which was the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence. We joined in this special celebration in many different ways. First of all, we organised a temporary exhibition entitled The Great War on the Lower San. Anniversary Exhibition on the 100th Anniversary of Regaining Independence. We also prepared a monumental publication Nekropolie Wielkiej Wojny nad Wisłą i Sanem, which in a very significant way complements and organises knowledge about war cemeteries in the region, but also about First World War activities on the San. Stalowa Wola also hosted the Mobile Multimedia Museum, a travelling exhibition organised on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of Regaining Independence of the Republic of Poland.
Our Museum organised a nationwide scientific conference on the occasion of the Hundredth Anniversary of Regaining Independence 1918-2018 and 80th Anniversary of Stalowa Wola 1938-2018 – Towards Independence – Economy, Entrepreneurship, Capital. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Investment and Development and the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. The conference was attended not only by academics, but also by participants in public life – representatives of business, local governments, NGOs. The conference was held as part of the event entitled Meetings with the Independent, organised by the Marshal’s Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Stalowa Wola, the Regional Museum invited all the inhabitants of our city to jointly prepare a jubilee outdoor exhibition entitled: ‘80 events from 80 years of Stalowa Wola’. ‘80 events from 80 years of Stalowa Wola’. To select these events from 80 years of the city’s history, a plebiscite was announced.
The Museum’s collections have been enriched by new valuable acquisitions and archives. These include: Beach at the Lido by A. Karpiński, S. Norblin’s Portrait of Max Makowski or a German photo album from the time of World War II, which contains over 100 photographs concerning the CID plant in Sarzyna, the Tarnowski Palace, Rozwadów, Stalowa Wola and the forced labour camp established at the Sarzyna plant.
The museum staff also carried out research on problems related to the history of the region, e.g. devoted to the history of the village of Pławo and its inhabitants, traces of the Great War of 1914-1918 on the Vistula and San Rivers, and the contribution of the inhabitants of Nadsanie to regaining independence (with particular emphasis on the Polish Legions), the history of first-war cemeteries (continuation), or the fate of the Jewish community of Rozwadów during World War II. It was also cooperation in developing the results of exhumation and excavation of World War I graves in Zdziary, Jarocin commune, and Kłyżowa, Pysznica commune, for the needs of the publication Nekropolie Wielkiej Wojny nad Wisłą i Sanem; there were substantive consultations and participation in the archaeological supervision together with the Institute of National Remembrance in Rzeszów in the area of the Town Park in the place of potential graves of the victims of German crimes, including Capt. Kazimierz Piłat – the commander of the Nisko district of the Home Army. Research work also continued in the area of the Central Industrial District theme: the impact of the CID on the development of private capital
A number of outdoor events took place in 2018, which were very popular with the public. As every year, the Museum became very actively involved in the international Night of Museums. In addition to the many exhibitions made available to visitors free of charge, there were creative art workshops, a historical tour of Stalowa Wola and two wonderful outdoor concerts: a performance by Ania Dabrowska and a recital by Katarzyna Jamróz.
The third Rozwadów May Day, entitled From gratitude to independence, also took place. The 3rd May Constitution Celebration in Stalowa Wola was honoured with the reenactment of a ‘living painting’ referring to Jan Matejko’s work The Constitution of May 3, 1791. The staging was organised with the active participation of school students and the local community. The event ended with a joint singing of patriotic songs and chants.
Patriotic singing was also held in November. In this way, the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining of Independence was celebrated. During this unique concert, in which the audience was the most important performer, the most beautiful Polish songs of the era could be heard. The concert was hosted by Waldemar Domański, director of the Library of Polish Songs, and Ewa Kornecka.
Within the framework of the project ‘Modelling comprehensive revitalisation of Stalowa Wola with the use of social participation tools’, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, together with the Mayor of Stalowa Wola and Rozwadów associations, organised for the third time a ROZWADOW WIGILLA, to which guests from Rozwadów and the surrounding area were invited. Participants shared traditional Christmas Eve dishes they had brought with them, as part of the wonderful ‘Welcome to the table’ initiative. In addition, a joint carol singing was held with the participation of the Podwórkowa Kapela ‘Rozwadów’, ‘Pałacyk Michla’ and the ‘Lasowiacy’ Choir.
In 2018, the entire offer of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola was used by 153,291 people in Poland and abroad, including 55,769 people in Stalowa Wola. Almost 1,300 people took part in our museum lessons, workshops and excursions for children and young people. Book publications, exhibition catalogues, folders, educational materials and guides are published. Among them, one of the most important items is the catalogue of the collection Glass and art déco ceramics from the collections of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, edited by Professor Anna Sieradzka. This book has met with great interest among collectors and enthusiasts of art déco.
We also run organised leisure activities, i.e. summer and winter half-schools, which are of great interest to the youngest.
Educational novelties have appeared. This is the ‘Karpiński’ Drawing and Painting School, which was established for people interested in the visual arts who want to master drawing and painting techniques. The offer is aimed at those interested – children, teenagers and adults – in developing their artistic skills and passions, looking for opportunities to spend their time creatively. The courses and classes are aimed at beginners as well as advanced students wishing to learn and perfect their craft.
Our visitors can make use of the museum shop, where they can buy regional publications and souvenirs. A tourist information point is in operation.
The end of the year also brought the completion of a project co-financed by European Funds – the revalorisation of the historic building of the former c.k. County Court in Stalowa Wola. The end of the year also saw the completion of a project financed from European Funds – the revalorisation of the historic building of the former County Court in Stalowa Wola for the needs of the Alfons Karpiński Painting Gallery. Work also continued towards the creation of the Central Industrial District Museum.
We started the revalorisation of modernist school workshops in Stalowa Wola. The subject of the project is the conservation and renovation of the historic school workshops building. The work aims to improve the conditions of the building’s use and to adapt it to fulfil the function of the Central Industrial District Museum.
2019 year
One of the most important events of 2019 at our museum was the opening of the country’s first gallery of paintings by Alphonse Karpinski, one of the leading artists of the Young Poland period. The ceremonial inauguration took place on January 27. The event was doubly special, as the restored historic building of the former court at 12 Rozwadowska Street, built in 1905, was opened to the public after many years.
Currently, the former courthouse building has been turned into an exhibition and educational space for the museum: the attic houses a gallery of works by Alphonse Karpinski with an art studio, the second floor houses a Children’s Education Center, and the first floor entrance area of the gallery includes an exhibition space, information desk, store, checkroom and toilets. The gallery includes the “Karpinski” Drawing and Painting School, which comprehensively and professionally teaches visual arts. The gallery is accompanied by a rich program of cultural events (exhibitions, workshops, lessons, conferences, concerts, films, etc.). An asset of the newly opened space is the elegant and visually attractive interior design. An elevator has been built in the building, which can be used from the low first floor level, which removes the previous architectural barrier for people with disabilities. The gallery has parking for cars, a coach and a stand for people with disabilities.
In 2019, our museum presented 22 temporary exhibitions, among them: “The Great War on the Lower San River. Anniversary Exhibition on the 100th Anniversary of Regaining Independence,” ”Private War. 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II,” ”Borderlands of Mine, Lost. From the memories of the residents of Stalowa Wola”, ‘Happy hour: Young Poland’, ‘Secession’, ‘I see everything as art’. Outdoor exhibitions included: “Tadeusz Gajda Tarzan. He fought for the Poland he believed in”, ‘German Occupation of the San River, 1939-1944. 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II’, ‘80 years of Stalowa Wola – always with Rozwadów’ – anniversary exhibition, ”Memories from sports chronicles. ZKS Stalowa Wola 1938-2018” anniversary exhibition.
We showed 3 exhibitions in Poland and 5 exhibitions abroad. These included the “ABC Elementary of Polish Design” exhibition, which was at the Nikola Tesla Museum of Technology in Zagreb, in Seoul and Incheon (South Korea) at Lotte Gallery and in St. Petersburg (Russia).
A new feature for lovers of art and high-level entertainment was the Summer Stage at the Gallery. Every Sunday in July and August there were afternoon chamber concerts in the courtyard of the Karpinsky Painting Gallery, art film screenings, exhibition tours, art workshops and theater performances. The project created an atmospheric place combining art with new concert potential.
A continuation of this project was the Musical Autumn at the Alfons Karpinski Painting Gallery, conducted in a similar formula. There were thematic concerts, guided tours of exhibitions and art workshops.
2020 year
The year 2020 was marked by pandemonium and the temporary closure of the Museum to visitors. Based on a decision by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola was temporarily closed to visitors on March 12. The break lasted until May 16, 2020. Another absolute closure lasted from November 7 until the end of 2020.
At that time, we directed greater efforts to contact our audiences in the virtual space as part of the #stayhomeculture campaign. The results of our work were very warmly received by the public. Since March 12, the museum’s team prepared in the digital space using the available platforms (website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) a rich popularization and educational offer concerning the museum’s activities, bringing closer the museum’s resources: collections, individual monuments, the results of research work, publications, exhibitions, events. Virtual tours of exhibitions and online exhibitions were prepared, as well as competitions and an intervening offer of educational activities, encouraging activity at home and sharing the results of work on the museum’s Facebook and Instagram.
Author’s educational series were created: 330 years of Rozwadów 1690-2020, Art déco glass in the collections of the Regional Museum, Let’s look into Plaw. Let’s reach to memories and albums, Action we collect recipes. Delicious forest cuisine from the Sandomierska Forest, Ethnographic Easter curiosities, Folk decorations an inspiration for small and big, Archaeology of the Sandomierska Basin, COP: history, people, monuments, A post of borderland zagonians, Spring challenge, Stalowa Wolaans on FB, Slavic beliefs, Christmas customs, rituals and divination, Megaliths in Poland.
We also prepared films and podcasts, and in this area we can boast of great achievements. Our film productions had a very good audience and were popular with viewers. These are film series: Visit with the Stalowa Wola Museum, COP: history, people, monuments, What’s Happening Here, Mega Story, Happy Hour – online tour, TraveLive (in cooperation with PROT). Museum staff also recorded and published promotional videos, social videos, interviews with authors, short spots on current exhibitions, announcements of important events and planned exhibitions.
We also had to transfer our cyclical cultural and patriotic events to the virtual space. On the occasion of the anniversary of the May 3 Constitution, we prepared a set of educational content and activities: games and puzzles for the whole family, available on the museum’s website and social media.
Celebrating patriotic events at the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola is already a tradition. In 2020, also the formula for joint singing of patriotic songs on the Independence Day of November 11 had to be changed, adapted to the pandemic restrictions. So it took the form of joint singing online, a project that consisted of recorded recordings of residents of Stalowa Wola. The result was a unique music video that united generations in a patriotic spirit. The joint caroling also sounded similar. “Stalowa Wola caroling” online was organized in cooperation with the Stalowa Wola Artistic Society STOWART and subsidized by the Mayor of Stalowa Wola. As a result, audiovisual material was created – a video clip to the background music of the songs “Lulajże, Jezuniu” and “God is born”, prepared by the Nadsanska Chamber Orchestra with the participation of Stalowa Wola residents who sent their performances. In addition, “A Christmas Carol for the Absent,” “Triumphs of the Heavenly King” and “One Such Day in the Year” were presented.
2021 year
In February, Director Lucyna Mizera retired. She had held this position since 1999.
On July 1, 2021, Ms. Aneta Garanty became the new director of the Museum.
We focused the strategic goal and main activities of the Museum on completing the investment of creating the Museum of the Central Industrial District and working on its permanent exhibition.In September, we completed the construction work, after which the construction of the arrangement began.
In 2021, we showed six permanent exhibitions, eleven temporary exhibitions in the museum and one temporary exhibition outside Stalowa Wola. We were visited by a total of 34,911 people at the museum and at the museum exhibition presented at the District Museum in Toruń.
Our museum collections have been enriched by relics donated by collectors and objects purchased. One of them is the PZInż Major aircraft engine, which the Museum acquired thanks to the cooperation and subsidy of the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. It is a particularly valuable relic, as it was licensed by the Czechoslovakian company A.S. Walter Tovarny in the 1930s and produced at the State Engineering Plant in Chechowice-Ursus, and later, as part of the Central Industrial District, also at the State Aviation Plant Engine Factory No. 2 in Rzeszow. The engine was intended for the RWD-17 aircraft.
The museum also purchased a vintage WSK MIKRUS MR-300 passenger car, which came off the production line in 1959. It was in the automotive production range of the plants of the pre-war Central Industrial District. The body was produced by Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego in Mielec, and the engine by Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego in Rzeszów.
In December, a historic PZL TS-11 ISKRA aircraft, a long-term deposit from the Air Force Museum in Dęblin, was planted in front of the CID Museum.
It is a specimen of a training and training aircraft designed and built entirely at the Polish armaments plants of the aviation industry. The aircraft is part of an open-air exhibition being created at the Central Museum of District Industry.
The Regional Museum received an unusual donation – a testament gift from Prof. Kazimierz Kuczman, which consists of seven paintings made using various techniques.
2022 year
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2023 year
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2024 year
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