The Praga Museum of Warsaw, one of the branches of the Museum of Warsaw, collects and presents collections related to the history and heritage of the right-bank part of the capital. It has been operating in its present shape since September 2015. The museum is housed in a complex of historic tenement houses at ul. Targowa. One of them is the Rothblith house, the oldest surviving brick residential house in Praga. The Museum itself promotes itself as a modern cultural institution that engages the local community in co-creating content and collections, goes beyond the museum halls, and is a center of education and cultural integration in Praga. We checked how it works and whether in this case “modernity” also means being open to the specific needs of various audiences, including parents with young children.
Permanent exhibition
The permanent exhibition, devoted to the history and cultural heritage of Prague, is an interesting and attractively presented story about this part of the city, although to some it may seem too modest. In the Prague History Room, we can follow the history of the district (from the 16th century) on chronologically arranged copperplates, engravings, paintings and photographs. A mock-up of Golędzinów, Praga and Skaryszew from the second half of the 18th century is a real attraction for both large and small. The exhibition devoted to the Praga Fair includes exhibits, also multimedia, related to the trade, craft and industrial tradition of this part of Warsaw. In the neighboring building, there are old Jewish prayer houses, with unique polychromes preserved.
Art installations located in historic cellars are a surprising and extremely interesting part of the permanent exhibition of the Museum. Here we can see a photographic report from the 10th Anniversary Stadium, which has been rooted in the reality of Prague for years. The installation “Apartment” is a photographic reportage about the inhabitants of Prague in their natural environment, in their tenement houses, apartments and backyards. The museum also collects and interestingly exhibits everyday objects belonging to the residents, such as toys, hair dryers, matchboxes, cups, carafes, etc. – thanks to them, we enter the unique Praga district and the Warsaw microworld. On the other hand, as part of “Prague Inspirations” we can listen to and watch Warsaw clips, incl. those realized as part of the Project: Warszawiak.
The museum has quite a large number of multimedia exhibits (unfortunately, not always working – this is a big problem for most institutions of this type). With the ticket, visitors receive returnable headphones, thanks to which in some places they can “connect” to an exhibit or screen, listen to a story, song or memories of the inhabitants of Prague. However, these are not attractions available for children – headphone readers are located quite high. Except for the children’s exhibition, the museum does not have any so-called “Tactile” exhibits. I also had the impression that the presence of busy kids was extremely stressful for the museum staff, even if the kids weren’t trying to touch anything.
While visiting the Museum, you can relax in its courtyard, as well as on the observation deck (difficult access!), from which you can see the roofs of the tarpaulin-covered booths from the Różycki Bazaar.
Museum available
The museum is well prepared for visits by people with limited mobility, including parents with prams. From the side of ul. Targowa, there are three steps to the building, but you can get to the museum from the side street of Kępna. Slightly sloping ramps are also located inside the building. In several places, special mechanical platforms (intended for wheelchairs) are also installed. There is a spacious elevator in the main museum building. Toilets with changing tables are located on all three levels. In the educational room, there is a soft rug on the floor for babies.
Accessibility limitations, such as stairs and high thresholds, can be found in building B (where the former Jewish prayer houses are located). Steep stairs lead to the observation deck. The museum has a bistro (with dishes suitable for children) and a shop with books and souvenirs.
Educational activities
The museum boasts an interesting educational offer, also for families. As part of “To the museum with a baby carrier” meetings, parents on parental leave (with children aged 0-2) are invited to participate in museum activities connected with a discussion about the problems of contemporary Prague. “Museum for kids” is a family workshop for children aged 0-6, where they take part in art games and reading books together. “ The Little Prague Academy” is aimed at older children (6-12 years old) – these are also family workshops, combined with interactive visits to exhibitions, art classes and meetings with artists. The museum also organizes activities for organized groups, including kindergartens and schools. All classes are paid, prior registration is required.
Temporary exhibition: 90th Birthday of the Warsaw Zoo.
Since April, the Praga Museum of Warsaw can see an exhibition organized on the occasion of the jubilee of the Warsaw Zoo, devoted to its history, creators and residents. It is an exhibition prepared primarily for children. It consists of two parts – in the first room, historical photographs of the ZOO, its creators, animals and their guardians, subsequent garden directors and visitors are presented. The photo exhibition is accompanied by archival recordings. The second room (to which you have to go down a few steps) has been arranged for the animal kingdom, where you can see up close and even stroke the most famous inhabitants of the Warsaw Zoo: elephant, lion, camel, gorilla, hippopotamus and bear. The creators of the exhibition have prepared a few interesting facts about each animal (you can compare their traces, for example). On small screens we will watch animations and archival reports about these animals. The exhibition also carries a clear pro-ecological message.
The exhibition may be small, but carefully prepared and beautifully arranged: we move around the cardboard jungle, we can play hide and seek between trees and bushes, and the dimmed lights intensify the atmosphere of mystery and adventure. The cool thing is that children can move freely around this space and are even encouraged to explore the exhibition on their own.
The subject of the zoo itself is grateful, interesting and gives many opportunities to create a good exhibition. However, I have the impression that the organizers did not think to which age group they are sending their message. For younger children, it is primarily playing with animals. The elderly can learn something, although – in my opinion – there could be three times more curiosities. The photo and recording part, in turn, will be of interest mainly to young people and adults. It is also a pity that the videos are not presented in some separate space, which would make them easier to receive.
The exhibition is open until September 16, 2018
To sum up, the Praga Museum of Warsaw is a place with a cool atmosphere and promising potential, which is slowly becoming the center of the social and cultural life of right-bank Warsaw. And this coming Saturday, June 9, at the Museum of Warsaw in the Old Town Square, the grand opening of the completed main exhibition – Things of Warsaw. We will certainly visit her and share our impressions.
Joanna Barczuk