Meeting of the Museum Council

Among those present in the conference room were the following Council members:
- Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Motyka
- Dr. Waldemar Ossowski; Director of the Gdańsk Museum, archaeologist
- Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński; Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Engelking; Head of the Research Center for the Holocaust of the Jewish People at the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Dr. Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska; Director of the Central Museum of Prisoners of War in Łambinowice-Opole
- Prof. Dr. Paweł Machcewicz; one of the founders of the Museum of the Second World War
- Dr. Ewa Manikowska; Professor at the Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences
- Dr. Joanna Wawrzyniak; historian and sociologist, lecturer at the University of Warsaw
- Dr. Marek Radziwon; theater and literary critic, culture manager, historian, president of the Polish PEN Club

Also in attendance were Maciej Buczkowski, Deputy Director of the President's Office representing city authorities – Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz; and Magdalena Krzyżanowska-Mierzewska (a lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 1993-2018), representing the local community. From the Museum, the management team present included Prof. Rafał Wnuk – acting director of MSWW, Dr. Janusz Marszalec – Deputy Director for Science, Ewa Lidzbarska-Kreft, Deputy Director for Organization, Mateusz Jasik – Deputy Director for Public Engagement, as well as Jan Szkudliński, Head of the MSWW Scientific Department and meeting secretary, IT Specialist, and Press Spokesperson.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council members elected the Chairperson. In the vote for the nominated candidate, Paweł Machcewicz was chosen. He addressed those gathered:

- This is a very symbolic moment for me, returning to the Museum after so many years. I am very pleased to be working with those with whom we built this Museum and with the members of the Council. We have many important tasks ahead of us—restoring the Museum to the stature it deserves, both nationally and internationally. I am glad that we will be doing all of this together.  

Dr. Ewa Manikowska, a respected art historian and museum expert, was elected as Vice-Chairperson.

During the meeting, a report on the Museum's activities for 2023 and the beginning of 2024 was presented. The Deputy Director for Science, Dr. Janusz Marszalec, highlighted the impressive achievements of various departments, including new exhibits, archaeological discoveries, and educational and cultural programs. Among the successes was the third edition of the Lost Culture Festival and concerts by artists such as T.Love and Sanah, which attracted record numbers of visitors. Notably, the Museum hosted its three millionth visitor in February 2024 and has recently been experiencing record attendance.

The Council also discussed plans for the revitalization of Westerplatte, which will aim to resemble its 1939 state. The investment includes the reconstruction of historical buildings—such as the station master’s house and four military warehouses—and the renovation of the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast. A new exhibition in the former Power Plant building and a Tourist Service Office will open in the first half of 2025.

Subsequently, Mateusz Jasik, Deputy Director for Public Engagement, presented the substantive plan and key events planned for 2025: new temporary exhibitions, international scientific conferences and lectures, festivals, further ‘Bartoszewski Name Days’, educational programs, and new publications. All of these elements are intended to complement the Museum's mission. Combining different languages and openness to art is the vision for development, exemplified by the new temporary exhibition ‘FOREST. Shelter of Victims. Hideout of Crimes’. The plan was adopted by the Council by a majority vote.

The experts present offered many ideas and constructive remarks. Each of these opinions will of be valuable guidance in shaping the Museum's activities moving forward.