“Wawel is Yours!” returns for its fourth edition, inviting adult visitors to explore the concept of safety within the museum space together. This year’s festival is themed “Safety in the Museum” and accompanies the opening of the exhibition ‘Lares and Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture’. Over four days, participants will have the opportunity to explore how care for people, places and heritage has shaped security practices – from royal residences to contemporary cultural institutions.
The festival programme is distinguished by its broad perspective: from architecture and museum methods of collection care, through historical symbols and customs, to contemporary questions about trust, mindfulness and the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit. This is an event for those who wish not only to explore, but also to understand how a sense of security – both physical and emotional – is built.
Safety as an experience
The theme of this year’s edition serves as a starting point for discussions on what provides shelter and peace of mind. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about historical methods of enhancing protection – from the layout of the royal residence to practices involving household amulets or symbols which, over the centuries, have been believed to possess protective powers. The contemporary dimension of security will be explored in the context of the museum’s work on preserving collections, documenting them and making them accessible in a responsible manner.
Meetings with experts
The events will be led by professionals renowned for their work in literature, education, curation and public engagement. They will set the tone for discussions on trust, care and mindfulness – values which, in cultural institutions, are just as important as the protection of heritage. Literary gatherings will offer a perspective on security through the lens of texts and stories, themed walks will reveal less obvious architectural contexts, and workshops will provide a practical experience of creative work.
A varied programme
The festival includes guided tours of selected exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions and meetings in the Reading Room with a view. A light show is planned in the Royal Gardens, which will enhance the atmosphere of the venue and offer a new perspective on Wawel. All events take place in spaces conducive to concentration and the exchange of ideas – from the Exhibition and Conference Centre to the Library in Building No. 5.
September in Kraków!
‘Wawel is Yours!’ is an opportunity to experience how art, literature and culture help to build a sense of community and balance. The festival encourages participation in events that combine reflection with action and show that safety can be understood not only as a value, but also as an inspiring story about the relationship between people and place. All events as part of the festival have a limited number of places, so tickets are required. Tickets can be purchased atwww.wawel.krakow.pl.
EVENT PROGRAMME:
13.00–13.45 ‘Lary and Penates. On building a sense of security in architecture’ | curatorial tour of the exhibition
14.00–17.00 Jewellery as an amulet | jewellery-making workshop
15.30–16.30 The Crown Treasury | curatorial tour of the exhibition
16.00–17.00 Plants of Power. The Green Magic of Wawel | botanical walk
17.00–18.30 Reading Room with a View | “The Temple and the Rubbish Tip. Architecture for Life” by Grzegorz Piątek
19.00–23.00 Gardens Painted with Light |lightshow25 September, Friday
10.00–15.00 Suspicious Shots | photographic walk around Wawel
10.00–15.00 A Home Under Care | workshop on making traditional ‘spiders’
11.00–14.00 City, Home, Space | reportage workshop
12.00–12.45 ‘Lary and Penates. On building a sense of security in architecture’ | curatorial tour of the exhibition
16.00–17.30 A Well-Designed City | a talk with Grzegorz Piątek
18.00–19.30 Why are the best parties in the kitchen? | panel discussion
19.00–23.00 Gardens Painted with Light |lightshow26 September, Saturday
10.00–13.00 Sounds of Interiors | music workshops
10.00–13.00 The Mindfulness Game | acting workshops
11.00–12.30 Reading Room with a View | ‘Design and Emotions: Why Things Win Our Hearts (or Get on Our Nerves)’ by Don Norman
12.00–13.00 ‘Lares and Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture’ | specialist guided tour of the exhibition
1.00 pm–2.30 pm Who watches over the home? | panel discussion
2.00 pm–5.00 pm Is safety in the city a luxury? | workshop with an architect
15.30–16.30 The Crown Treasury | curator-led tour of the exhibition
16.00–17.30 The Boundaries of Privacy | meeting with Maja Mozga-Górecka
19.00–23.00 Gardens Painted with Light |lightshow27 September, Sunday
10.00–10.40 ‘Everything will change soon’ | curator-led tour of the exhibition
10.00–12.00 Protective herbs for the home | botanical workshop
10.00–13.00 Reading more closely | poetry workshop
12.00–13.00 ‘Lary and Penates. On building a sense of security in architecture’ | specialist guided tour of the exhibition
12.00–13.30 A well-furnished home | meeting with Aleksandra Koperd
14.00–15.30 What’s it like to live in Kraków your whole life? | a discussion with Wit Szostak
14.30–17.00 The art of repair | kintsugi workshop
16.00–17.30 Is creating art a safe pursuit? | a talk with Magdalena Ujma
19.00–23.00 Gardens Painted with Light | a light show
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