Private Museums, Local Collections. Research Report

The main aim of the study was to explore and gain insights of the today’s new cultural trends having to do with numerous private museums being set up in Poland. The research team of the Ari Ari Foundation strived to comprehensively document the phenomenon in terms of three crucial aspects: - analysis of the process of establishing, organising and operation of private museums, - characteristics of private museums and various aspects of their work, - analysis of the reception of private museums at local and regional level, while taking into consideration social, economic, political and cultural background. The report focuses on people who run their own museums, typically as a one-person business, and who, in spite of the unfavourable legal, economic and social environment, establish mini cultural facilities that are way beyond the typical approach to how a “classic” museum operates.