Muzeum Sztuki Dziecka

What to expect

This is not a museum you walk into off the street. Barbara Szydelska’s “Child and Art” Foundation has been running art workshops for children in Zoliborz without interruption since 1965 - over 60 years. In that time, a collection of 5,000 works created by participants has accumulated: paintings, sculptures, prints, ceramics, tapestries woven by children, life-sized dolls, relief illustrations of fairy tales. The prize piece: a children’s recreation of “The Battle of Grunwald” comparable in size to Matejko’s original.

But the collection is not permanently exhibited. The 5,000 works are stored in the basement of a residential building at ul. Krasinskiego 8. Workshops take place at ul. Mickiewicza 65 (rented from the Zoliborz district). Viewing the collection requires a phone appointment.

The museum’s history is a story of nomadism. It began in a former photographer’s studio on Promyka street. For decades the workshops migrated through Zoliborz apartments. In 1989, with help from actress Alina Janowska, they moved into Fort Sokolnickiego (Czarnieckiego 51) - and for 20 years that was home. In 2009, eviction due to the fort’s renovation. Since then - rented space.

Workshops: painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, linocut, scenography, weaving. Two age groups (5-11 and 11-18), maximum 12 children per session. Around 100 participants from across Warsaw. Works have been exhibited in London, Stockholm, Berlin and Prague.

Tips

• Visits by arrangement: +48 601 251 309 or +48 885 251 309.
• Workshops: Monday-Friday, 15:00-17:00 and 17:00-19:00 (enrolment via muzeumsztukidziecka.pl or by phone).
• The foundation is a registered public benefit organisation - Polish taxpayers can direct 1.5% of their tax to it (KRS: 0000048660).
• The website can be unreliable - phone is the most reliable contact method.
• Best opportunity to see the collection: Night of Museums (May).

Getting there

Tram: pl. Wilsona stop - lines 6, 15, 17, 36. Then 5 minutes walk along ul. Mickiewicza.

Metro: Plac Wilsona (M1) - 5 minutes walk.

Bus: pl. Wilsona stop - lines 116, 152, 157, 167, 181, E-2.

Nearby museums

Towards the Citadel (800 m): Polish Army Museum, Museum of Polish History, Katyn Museum, 10th Pavilion Museum.