What events of the last 10 years would you consider milestones in the development of the Amber Museum?
This is a difficult question, because so much has happened during this time and we have always been accompanied by great commitment. However, without a doubt, the biggest event was the opening of the exhibition at the Zespól Przedbramia on Długa Street, that is, the opening of the Amber Museum Branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Gdańsk. The opening was preceded by the completion of a long renovation and adaptation work on the unique, historic headquarters and the creation of a permanent exhibition, which is consistently highly rated by visitors. The Amber Museum practically continuously presents and promotes amber in Gdańsk – a city famous for contemporary and centuries-old amber traditions. Many foreign guests, journalists, and tourists come to the museum and receive a huge amount of knowledge about amber. The earlier activities undertaken before moving to the headquarters in Zespól Przedbramia – when the beginnings of the collections were presented in the Main City Hall – I would describe as temporary, perhaps even occasional. The opening ceremony at the current headquarters was graced by a temporary exhibition presenting amber objects from exquisite collections from Poland that had never before been presented in Poland: from the collections of the Vatican Museums, the Ermitaż Museum and the Palace in Carskie Sielce. Obtaining permission to borrow the actual treasures for an institution that is practically just starting its operations is a great success.
Another milestone is the crucial decision regarding the allocation of a targeted grant for the purchase of museum items. Contact with Georg Laue, an antique dealer from Munich, resulted in the purchase of Gdańsk’s top-quality objects. The award for the Amber Museum as the Best Tourist Product of the Pomeranian Voivodeship in 2009 summed up the previously achieved high level of activity.
The Amber Museum is also an important place for sentimental reasons: the Gdańsk amber collectors have made a significant contribution to the establishment of this institution; the beginnings of the collection were largely thanks to donations made by them – and this continues to be the case to this day.
Of course, the Gdańsk amber enthusiasts’ community undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to the establishment of the Amber Museum. Many of them visit the facility with their guests, more willingly because they can boast of their personal contribution to the collection’s development. Many appreciate the value of this place and the prestige of presenting their works. It also happens that in exceptional situations, such as the death of an amber collector or the discovery of important archival material, this legacy is handed down as a gift to the collection we are creating. I think that many more people will eventually appreciate the value of having such a facility, which also documents contemporary activities related to amber. It would be worth comparing it to building a house. A property looks different when we have a budget and can complete the project in a short time, and differently when we have to seek donated building materials or equipment. The quality of the implementation would certainly also be different. This is the case with the Amber Museum, whose activities are funded primarily by municipal funds. In short, in a short period of just ten years, an institution with a prestigious collection has been established. Thanks to the funds allocated and the commitment of the people working there, we have an institution highly regarded by specialists and visitors alike.
What are the sources of funding for the activities of the institution?
The Amber Museum is a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Gdańsk, which is funded by the city. Therefore, the functioning of the Amber Museum is dependent on the city. We are of course trying to secure additional funds; however, this is not easy, and lately, during the crisis, it has become increasingly difficult. Our applications most often concern the purchase of new, exceptional objects for the museum collection. We have managed to receive a grant from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage four times, funds from the L. Kronenberg Citi Bank Handlowy Foundation, the BRE Bank, and Deutsche Bank.
Next year, construction work will begin on the Wyspa Spichrzów Island, part of which includes the new headquarters of the Amber Museum.
Constructing a new headquarters from scratch with a purpose for museum functions creates new opportunities. We are interested in expanding the exhibition and using modern technologies, but above all in creating a multifunctional area for public events accessible to visitors regardless of the museum’s opening hours. Currently, a competition is underway to develop the northern part of the Wyspa Spichrzów peninsula, where the headquarters of the Amber Museum is to be built. The character of the development will depend on the creativity of the architectural teams as well as the modern approach of the heritage conservator, as well as the community of old Gdańsk enthusiasts. I hope that a compromise can be reached to create a modern and attractive architecture. Only based on the approved building design will the interior visualizations be created. We already know that this is a long-term project, and we hope that the funding will allow the creation of a modern institution. We also hope that, as with the creation of other museum institutions in the country, an interdisciplinary team of specialists will be appointed to carry out the project. This task goes far beyond the competence of museum professionals, even if we take into account our previous experiences.
However, earlier, in May, the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the Amber Museum were planned.
The anniversary of the Bursztyn Museum is linked to the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Historical Museum of the City of Gdańsk, of which it is a branch. They will take place on May 6 and 7, 2010, at the Dwor Artusa. The Bursztyn Museum is preparing an exhibition of photographs titled „Gdańsk in a Amber Lens” at its headquarters, which we invite you to visit from May 14 to December 31, 2010. This is an exceptionally innovative project: renowned Gdańsk photographers have created unique photographs using the only world-class lens designed by Marek Mazur with an amber lens. The distinctive warmth, sunny glow, and ever-mysterious nature of amber are visible in the specific pastel-colored images. We invite you to see famous figures, places, and symbols associated with Gdańsk – this time „seen through amber”.