On September 27, 2016, Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, will award the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis to the Polish Museum of America (PMA). PMA President Richard Owsiany and Managing Director Małgorzata Kot will accept the award on behalf of the PMA. The ceremony will take place at the office of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York.
The Jozef Pilsudski Institute of America (New York) and Janusz Sporek also will receive Gloria Artis awards.
Jarosław Sellin, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, announced this honor on September 15, during the 38th Annual Conference of the Polish Museums, Archives, and Libraries Abroad, held in London.
One of the oldest and largest ethnic museums in the United States, the Polish Museum of America (PMA) is dedicated to preserving the Polish American past for future generations. Founded in 1935 by an initiative of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and open since 1937, the PMA celebrates more than 80 years of service to the community.
The Museum showcases a unique permanent collection, highlights include: personal and professional mementos of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, statesman and pianist (1860-1941), in the IJ Paderewski Room; Inter-War paintings and sculptures in the Stephen and Elizabeth Ann Kusmierczak Art Gallery; and art and artifacts from the Polish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, displayed in the Sabina P. Logisz Great Hall and throughout the PMA. Temporary exhibits of various art and historical themes round out visitor experiences, creating an engaging space to learn about the Polish American past and present.
The PMA’s rich programming engages audiences and preserves Polish arts, customs, and traditions for all generations. Annual events include the Official State of Illinois Pulaski Day Celebration on the first Monday in March, the Summer Ball in early June, the Library’s Duplicate Book Sale, “Art for Heart” fundraiser and exhibition, and an Autumn Dance. Arts and crafts workshops are held for children and families: Easter pisanki, or egg coloring; wycinanki – traditional paper cutting techniques; kite making on International Kite Day; and Christmas ornament making. This is in addition to regularly scheduled “Meet the Author” and literary discussions, lectures on art or history, film screenings, and musical performances throughout the year.
The PMA Archives contains historic materials, documents, maps, and photographs from Polish and Polish American individuals and organizations. A Polish-language guide to the archives collections was recently published – the first of its kind in the PMA’s history. The PMA Library, which celebrated its centennial in 2015, holds over 100,000 books for research and lending, and collections of Polonica, rare prints, and periodicals.
For more information, please visit: www.PolishMuseumOfAmerica.org
