The penguin and the bookshelves: animals that are with us every step of the way

During the sessions, children and their carers will discover how, from ancient Egypt to the time of MNK Wyspiański, artists drew inspiration from nature, animals and plants. We will explore the museum’s galleries and gardens, learn to observe closely, track changes in nature and see how it fares in the city centre. We’ll examine the materials used by artists of the past, optical illusions, urban birds, animal habitats and fantastical creatures hidden within works of art. There will be plenty of art activities, walks, work with natural materials and discussions about ecology and caring for the environment. This is a series full of wonder, surprise and creative fun, tailored to the needs of our youngest explorers.

In 2025, the sessions were recognised in the “Słoneczniki” poll as recommended by parents.

The workshops are designed for children aged 4–6 accompanied by their carers.

Participation in the workshops is free of charge, but we ask that you book in advance.

All workshops are divided into two parts:

• the first part takes place at the designated MNK branch (approximately 40–50 minutes)
• the second part takes place in the green spaces in the immediate vicinity of the MNK branch in question (approx. 30–40 minutes)*

What is the elephant doing in the company of other exotic animals on a piece of wooden furniture? Where has the dragon made itself at home, and why has the eagle hidden under the table? Can you spot a penguin in the museum? During these workshops, we will try to answer these questions and consider why artists and craftspeople so often used animal motifs in their work. We’ll see exhibits from various corners of Poland and the world. We’ll marvel at the beauty and variety of the materials they’re made from – from amber and coloured glass, through clay and wood, to gold and porcelain. In the museum’s surroundings, we will seek our own inspiration and discover that fascinating creatures are not limited to exotic tigers and penguins.

During the session, we will discuss beautiful reproductions from the books: The Little Hours with a calendar containing the lives of saints venerated in various German dioceses (1485) and On local and overseas herbs by Hieronim Spiczyński (1556), from the collections of the MNK Czartoryski Museum.

Hosting:

Anna Pomykalska-Marczuk and the staff of the Institute of Nature Conservation at the Polish Academy of Sciences

Anna Pomykalska-Marczuk – teacher and visual artist. In the 1990s, she studied art in Kyiv. Her favourite subjects in painting include architecture, the city and its details – gates, streets and windows. She has taken part in numerous painting exhibitions (both group and solo) in Poland and abroad. She has won several awards in the field of artistic photography; in photography, she most enjoys taking stylised portraits, portraits of children and nudes. For over a decade, she has been working with the National Museum in Kraków as an educator, and she also works as a teacher at a Montessori primary school.

Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences – The Institute is a research institution conducting activities relating to nature conservation in the broadest sense, addressing issues such as the preservation of species diversity in the plant and animal worlds, ecology, the fundamentals of protecting rare and endangered species, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the maintenance of the continuity of natural processes, aquatic biology, geoconservation, and so-called conservation biology and the social dimension of nature conservation. The Institute’s staff carry out their research work with passion and dedication, but they are also involved in educational activities: they run workshops and organise or co-organise events promoting science and nature conservation among older people, children and people with disabilities (including the Festival of Science and Art in Kraków, the University Festival, Earth Days). Together with the National Museum in Kraków, the Institute has co-organised events such as the Garden Festival, Wianki, a series of meetings on art and nature entitled ‘Enchanted by Beauty – Art Experts and Biologists on Works Inspired by Nature’, as well as last year’s edition of the ‘Butterflies and Stems’ workshops. For more information, visit: https://www.iop.krakow.pl.

The activities are part of the project: “The Czartoryski Library – extension and refurbishment of the MNK Czartoryski Museum”. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment Programme 2021–2027, PRIORITY VII: Culture, Area 1: Development of cultural infrastructure (listed and non-listed).