MODERNISATION AND INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE KRASIŃSKI PALACE (PALACE OF THE COMMONWEALTH) AT 3/5 KRASIŃSKI SQUARE IN WARSAW

On 12 May 2021, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport, represented by Wojciech A. Kwiatkowski, Director of the Financial Department at the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport, and the National Library of Poland, represented by Grażyna Spiechowicz-Kristensen, Deputy Director of the National Library, for co-financing from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA FM) 2014–2021 regarding the budget of the project ‘Modernisation and interior design of the Krasiński Palace (Palace of the Commonwealth) at Plac Krasiński 3/5 in Warsaw’.

The amount of co-financing from the EEA FM funds is EUR 2,974,993.25; the state budget is set at EUR 524,998.81.

The aim of the project is to improve the functional and usable space of the Palace, to restore the building to its former splendour, to provide access to unique collections of historical and cultural heritage and to promote the socio-cultural role of the inhabitants of Warsaw, Mazovia, as well as that of those from other regions of Poland and abroad visiting the capital.

The refurbishment and interior redesign of the Palace of the Commonwealth will make it possible to:

• provide access to the building and the most important collections of the National Library of Poland that are currently not availble to the users,
• create optimal opportunities for the main function of the facility so as to meet the needs and expectations of social groups from all backgrounds and of all ages and experiences,
• adapt the Palace to the requirements of modern technologies and standards of cultural institutions so that it my become an important space for socio-cultural life and a distinctive tourist attraction in Warsaw,
• create an interactive exhibition space presenting the unique collections of the National Library of Poland (displays of historic objects, temporary themed exhibitions; presentation of the history of the National Library of Poland, the Palace of the Commonwealth, books and printing, European literary heritage, as well as historical and contemporary reading habits),
• create an open, multi-generational space for education and information that is suitable to host educational activities and workshops for children, school students, adults and senior citizens,
• create, in close cooperation with the inhabitants of Warsaw, a new, rich cultural and educational offer at the Palace of the Commonwealth that will engage the local community across all age categories.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the Norwegian Public Library in Bergen.