Wystawa o zabawie czy zabawa na wystawie? Społeczny odbiór projektu Trzepaki, Reksio, Atari w Muzeum Nowej Huty

Abstract

AN EXHIBITION ABOUT FUN, OR FUN AT THE EXHIBITION? THE SOCIAL RECEPTION  OF THE PROJECT CHILDREN’S FUN AND  GAMES IN COMMUNIST POLAND AT NOWA  HUTA MUSEUM

The paper discusses the temporary exhibition titled Trzepaki, Reksio, Atari (Children’s Fun and Games in Communist Poland) which was presented at Nowa Huta Museum, a branch of the Museum of Kraków, from 16 February 2023 until 7 January 2024, and narrated the story of children’s games and entertainment in the time of Polish People’s Republic. The exhibition was interactive – while exploring exhibition space visitors were encouraged to engage in fun activities, touch the exhibits and get first-hand experience. The project was advertised as “an exhibition about fun and fun at the exhibition” and enjoyed exceptionally high attendance and popularity. It also received very good reviews from the audiences. The author attempts to answer such questions as what contributed to such a positive reception of the exhibition, to what extent was it due to the topics it explored, how significant were the interactive elements, and what other factors had an impact on its overall success. In her analysis of the subject the author uses the tools of participant observation. The data presented in the paper has been gathered by the author in the course of her active participation in the project as the author of the original concept behind the exhibition and the exhibition script, the exhibition curator, and the person responsible for the programme of events accompanying the exhibition.