Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK

MOCAK (photo: Rafał Sosin)

A location that should be on every visitor’s itinerary is Zabłocie – today, one of the most interesting districts of the city and one of the most important development areas. Situated a pleasant stroll from the city centre, Zabłocie, historically significant as the site of the ghetto and Schindler’s Factory, was after the war almost totally industrialised. Today, thanks in part to MOCAK the Museum of Contemporary Art, a process of revitalisation through culture has been taking place in the area.

The Museum occupies the site of the former Schindler Factory and it has become one of the chief tourist attractions of the city. It is a contemporary cultural institution, which has been open to the public since May 2011. MOCAK’s programme includes presentation of the latest contemporary art, education and research as well as the publishing of projects. The institution’s two primary goals are the presentation of the art of the last two decades in the context of the post-war avant-garde and conceptual art, and bringing closer the rationale of creativity by highlighting the ethical values inherent in art as well as its links to everyday life. The Museum’s activities are tailor-made for various user groups. Through its activities, MOCAK’s Education Department aims to popularise the idea of a society open to art, in which everybody, regardless of age or social status is invited to have a say.

On Level 1, you can view the MOCAK Collection, whilst the temporary exhibitions occupy Level 2. In the smaller of the two buildings, there is a gallery housing temporary individual exhibitions. The MOCAK premises also include a library, a bookshop, a café and a studio for the conservation of contemporary art. In its permanent collection, the Museum has works of artists from all over the world, including works by Tomasz Bajer, Edward Dwurnik, Krištof Kintera, Jarosław Kozłowski, Robert Kuśmirowski, Lars Laumann, Maria Stangret and Krzysztof Wodiczko.

The Museum’s exhibition space totals some 10 000 m2. The whole building provides access for the disabled, particularly for those with impaired mobility.