History
Year opened to the public: 1900
Brief history: The history of Zach_ta National Gallery of Art dates back to the year 1860, when the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts was founded. The Society set itself the task of organizing exhibitions, purchasing works of art to create a national collection, and assisting young artists. In the years 1898-1900, as the combined result of a skillful move by its board of managers and significant contributions from the public, the Society was able to erect a building for its headquarters. An urban palace in eclectic style was constructed according to a design by Stefan Szyller, and decorated with a sculpted front inscribed with the Latin word ÔArtibusÕ, meaning, ÔTo the ArtsÕ.
Although the building was one of the few to survive in WarsawÕs city center after the destruction of the Second World War, Zach_ta as an institution changed immensely. Its rich collection of art was placed in deposit at the National Museum in Warsaw, where it now constitutes the core of the Gallery of Polish ArtÕs collection. The space vacated at Zach_ta was occupied by a newly created Central Bureau for Artistic Exhibitions. Following the transformations in 1989, the gallery regained its status, returning to the noble civic goals of the original Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts to became Zach_ta State Gallery of Art. Today, once again it is dedicated to the enrichment of the nationÕs social and cultural life, seeking to encourage art at home and promote it abroad. In 2003, Zach_ta was awarded the name and status of the National Gallery of Art.
Zach_ta National Gallery of Art is a contemporary art gallery and the largest exhibition hall in Warsaw. Its primary task is the presentation and the promotion of contemporary art as well as extensive cooperation with galleries and other art institutions around the world. Exhibitions range from conventional cross-section and thematic exhibitions, to those examining the history of artistic phenomena, modes of vision, and transformations in approaches and appreciation.
Programming
Aims and objectives:
Exhibitions devoted to individual artists are held regularly, featuring international artists such as; Louise Bourgeois, Cai Guo-Qiang, Yayoi Kusama and Daniel Libeskind. Polish art is given full and extensive coverage with monographic exhibitions of outstanding Polish artists, including; Katarzyna Kobro, Tadeusz Kantor, Jerzy Nowosielski, and Andrzej Wr—blewski. Exhibitions of the younger generation of Polish artists are also presented; Katarzyna Kozyra, Pawe_ Althamer, Artur _mijewski and Zbigniew Libera. A special exhibition space ÔMa_y SalonÕ, is dedicated to the youngest generation of PolandÕs promising young artists.
While Zach_ta’s main focus the organization of exhibitions, it is also dedicated to building its collection of Polish art. The tradition of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts (SEFA), the founding institution of the gallery, whose main aim was to creating collections Ôof new, original works of artÕ, is still alive. When SEFA was dissolved in 1949, its collection was transferred to the National Museum of Art in Warsaw, where it still remains.
Distinct areas of
programming: Special exhibition projects: Every two years, Zach_ta collaborates with Deutsche Bank Foundation and Deutsche Bank Polska, to organize the competition for young artists, Views, Deutsche Bank Foundation Award. In previous years the award has been presented to; El_bieta Jab_o_ska, 2003, Maciej Kurak, 2005, Janek Simon, 2007, and Wojciech B_kowski, 2009.
Since the early 1990s, the director of Zach_ta National Gallery of Art has also been the commissioner of the Polish Pavilion at the International Art Exhibition in Venice, and International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. The shows presented at the Pavilion in recent years featured; Artur _mijewski, Repetition, 51st International Art Exhibition in Venice; Monika Sosnowska, 1:1, 52nd International Art Exhibition in Venice; Krzysztof Wodiczko, Guests, 53rd International Art Exhibition in Venice; Jaros_aw Kozakiewicz, Transfer, 10th International Architecture Exhibition; Hotel Polonia, The Afterlife of Buildings, 11th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, which received The Golden Lion Award, for the best national pavilion.
Collection: Zach_taÕs collection includes 20th century masters of Polish art, such as Tadeusz Kantor, Henryk Sta_ewski and Alina Szapocznikow, as well as international contemporary artists such as Miros_aw Ba_ka, Katarzyna Kozyra, Zbigniew Libera, Wilhelm Sasnal and Krzysztof Wodiczka. Zach_ta currently has more than 3,600 works in its collection, including more than 700 paintings, almost 80 video works, almost 100 sculptures and installations, and over 2,700 works on paper (graphic works, drawings and photos). Zach_ta has a library and archive that assembles and shares documentation on contemporary Polish Art from recent years.
Most outstanding projects of the last 3-5 years: Tadeusz Kantor, Interior of the Imagination, 2005
The Impossible Theatre, Pawel Althamer, Tadeusz Kantor, Katarzyna Kozyra, Robert Kusmirowski, Artur Zmijewski, 2006
Gustav Metzger, Works of 1995-2007, 2007
Annette Messager, On Show (Faire Parade), 2010
Allan Sekula, Polonia and Other Fables, 2010
Public programming
Aims and objectives: The Public Program is responsible for activities accompanying exhibitions, the popularization of art and art history, and informing the public of Zach_taÕs and Kordegarda Project exhibitions (Zach_taÕs branch in Krakowskie Przedmie_cie). It presents lectures, meetings with artists, historians and art critics, conferences, movie screenings, workshops, book promotions and tours guided by curators. Each exhibition is accompanied by its own educational and film program.
Distinct areas of programming: Zach_taÕs public projects include: Circle of Art Lovers; meetings, workshops and discussion panels with young generation artists. To look/ To see, Contemporary Art and the Elderly; monthly meetings hosted by art historians Barbara D_browska and Maria Kosi_ska, to bring contemporary art, often perceived as difficult or hard to understand, to the elderly. Come and Ask a Question; meetings and discussions with art critics, art historians, and experts in culture studies and similar disciplines in the galleries provides visitors to opportunity to think about different perceptions and interpretations of exhibitions.
Zach_ta has collaborated with Warsaw Electronic Festival and Art and Technology Project for many years (WEF.LIVE.LAB/CHOping), to create an experimental recording studio and present a series of concerts, workshops and lectures on experimental modern music and visual new media arts. Live performances have been given by; Toshinori Kondo, ISAN, Zen Lu, Tetsuya Hori, and kr39.
Educational Programming
Distinct areas of programming: The education department has s distinct and in depth program. Interpreted guided tours are available for high schools, middle and primary school groups and children, groups of friends and tourists of all ages. Each exhibition is accompanied by a specific student workshop program.
Program strands: Specific education programs include:
Exhibition Workshops for Kids (Kindergarten and Primary School); a two part workshop for children (aged between 4 and 12) aimed at encouraging students to think and ask questions about works of in exhibition on view, followed by a workshop in which they create their own art works, inspired by what they have seen.
Family Workshops; parents and children (aged between 4 and 12) visit an exhibition together and engage in artistic projects.
Zach_ta Reads Books to Kids; a series of meetings devoted to graphically enchanting, wise and interesting books. Excerpts from books are read and students engage in artistic projects.
Academic: Zach_ta on the Wheels and on the Internet; since 2006, this program has brought art to small country primary schools, located away from major art centers. Zach_ta has visited 12 small country schools including Lipiny, Kobylnica, Fornetka and D_u_ewo. From January to June 2010 the program was sponsored by Orange Foundation and Orange Academy.
Contemporary Art Workshops and teachersÕ training programs; these were held in schools in Miesi_czkowo and Go_kowo (of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province).
The Education Department publicizes its schedule at Zach_ta and Kordegrada Project through a weekly email newsletter, through its Facebook page (which also inlcudes images from workshops and exhibitions) and on 23 large Infoscreens displayed in Warsaw’s Underground.
Publishing
Types of publishing/
number per year: Zach_ta publishes a range of materials, from monographic catalogues to essay anthologies. 5 issues of Informator o galeriach warszawskich/ WhatÕs on In Warsaw Galleries, are published each year in Polish and in English.
Spaces
Surface area/capacity: Zacheta has a exhibition space of 1,675 m2.
Type: Thirteen exhibition rooms ranging in size from 100 to 313 m2.
Administrative structure / Management
Managing organization: Members of the Advisory Board: BŽatrice Josse, Dr. Rainer Fuchs, Mark Nash, Jacek Sempoli_ski, Andrzej Starmach, Piotr Nowicki, Krzysztof Knittel, Piotr Piotrowski, Krzysztof Pomian, Andrzej Szczerski, Maria Poprz_cka, Piotr Gruszczy_ski, Marta Le_niakowska, Andrzej Mencwel, Jacek Dehnel, Zbigniew Libera.
Director / CEO: Dr. Agnieszka Morawi_ska
Head of Exhibitions / Artistic Director: Vice Director, Hanna Wr—blewska h.wroblewska@zacheta.art.pl
Vice Director, El_bieta Sobiecka-Mindak e.sobiecka@zacheta.art.pl
Head of Collection/ Chief Curator: Curators curators@zacheta.art.pl
Hanna Wr—blewska h.wroblewska@zacheta.art.pl
Magda Kardasz m.kardasz@zacheta.art.pl
Maria Brewi_ska m.brewinska@zacheta.art.pl
Julia Leopold j.leopold@zacheta.art.pl
Anna Tomczak a.tomczak@zacheta.art.pl
Curator: Collection department
Ma_gorzata Bogda_ska-Krzy_anek m.bogdanska@zacheta.art.pl
Maria _wier_ewska m.swierzewska@zacheta.art.pl
Joanna Wa_ko j.wasko@zacheta.art.pl
Joanna Egit-Pu_ynska j.puzynska@zacheta.art.pl
Financing
Public: Approximately 3 000 000 Euro (1 500 000 Euro – Government subsidy; 1 500 000 Euro – specific grants and gallery’s own income).
