The protection and conservation of collections constitute one of the core statutory activities of the National Museum in Kraków. Our standards for the safe storage and conservation of museum objects are based on contemporary science, expertise, and experience rooted in the Museum’s long-standing conservation tradition. Initially, this work was carried out through commissions entrusted to nineteenth-century specialists. Dedicated conservation studios with permanent conservation staff began to be established in the 1930s, and in the following decades they were continuously developed to meet the growing needs in this field.
Today, conservation activities at the Museum are interdisciplinary in nature, and the principles of conservation care are constantly being refined. Conservation treatment is carried out on paintings, works on paper, miniatures, sculptures, contemporary spatial objects, and decorative arts collections, including historic furniture, frames, militaria, ceramics, glass, and textiles. Conservation work is accompanied by technological research and scholarly projects. As part of their responsibilities, conservators also prepare guidelines for the safe display and storage of artworks and supervise the transport of museum objects and the installation of exhibitions.
The Conservation Department collaborates with numerous internal and external institutions, providing conservation care for the National Museum in Kraków’s collection, which currently comprises nearly 900,000 museum objects.
The Conservation Department consists of 11 specialized studios employing conservators and restoration specialists. The Chief Conservator’s Division also includes the Collections Storage Department. The Museum Prevention Department is responsible for preventive measures, including the monitoring and analysis of environmental conditions, as well as identifying needs related to the safety and protection of museum objects.
Conservation Studios of the National Museum in Kraków
+48 12 433 5 834, (12) 509 749 895
+48 12 433 5 833
