Zagłębie Museum in Będzin

Muzeum Zagłębia in Będzin was established in 1956 on the initiative of the Society for the Care of Castle Hill, the Society of the Museum of the Dąbrowa Basin in Będzin, and the Municipal Social Committee for the Reconstruction of the Castle. The institution was opened to mark the 600th anniversary of Będzin receiving town rights on 22 July 1956.^[3] In 1945–1983, the museum was located only in the castle and was the first museum institution in the Zagłębie Dąbrowskie.^[4] In 1983, a second site was opened in the 18th-century palace-and-park complex of the Mieroszewski family in Będzin (in Gzichów). The current director is Wioletta Lisowska.

The core responsibilities of Muzeum Zagłębia include:^[5]

• acquiring cultural property and documentation related to regional history through purchases, allocations, bequests, donations, deposits, and through field research;
• maintaining scholarly records, inventorying, and classifying collections;
• storing collections under conditions ensuring their safety and accessibility for research;
• securing and conserving collections;
• organising and conducting scholarly research within the disciplines represented;
• organising permanent exhibitions,^[6] temporary exhibitions,^[7] and travelling exhibitions;
• educational activity;^[8]
• making collections available for scholarly, educational, and exhibition purposes;
• preparing and publishing inventories, catalogues, exhibition guides, and other scholarly and popular-science publications;
• maintaining a library in relevant and auxiliary disciplines and providing access to its holdings for researchers, students, and teachers;
• staff training;
• substantive and training cooperation with other museums;^[9]
• cooperation with individuals and social organisations whose aims align with the museum's statutory tasks;^[10]
• organising other forms of cultural activity such as concerts, theatre performances, competitions,^[11] training sessions,^[12] conferences, author meetings, and other initiatives (including outdoor events) promoting the palace-and-park complex, the castle, and their collections.

The museum's organisational structure includes the following departments:^[5]

• History;^[13]
• Archaeology;^[13]
• Ethnography (est. 1964);^[13]
• Arms and armour;^[13]
• Outreach;
• Art;^[13]
• Exhibition design and installation;
• Photography;^[13]
• Finance and administration;
• Library.

Decorations

• Gold Badge of Honour for Merits to the Silesian Voivodeship (2012).^[14]
• Honorary Cross of the Bytom Marksmen's Brotherhood for museum director Anna Smogór for cooperation (2001).^[14]
• “Badge for merits to the Union of Combatants of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners” for museum director Wioletta Lisowska (2018).^[14]

Awards

• Third prize (archaeological exhibitions category) for organising the exhibition In a Lusatian settlement and a medieval stronghold in the “Museum Event of the Year – Sybilla 2006” competition (2007).^[14]
• Third prize for organising the exhibition Historical weapons in the “Museum Event of the Year – Sybilla 2005” competition (2006).^[14]
• Award of the Mayor of Będzin and the City Council for lifetime achievements in artistic creativity, promotion and protection of culture (2016).^[14]
• Award of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship for Museum Event of 2008 (publications category) for Będzin 1358–2008 (2009).^[14]
• Second prize of the Voivodeship Office Department of Culture and Art “For addressing the subject of the martyrdom of Będzin Jews” (1994).^[14]
• Third-class award of the Ministry of Culture and Art in the “Most Important Museum Event of the Year” competition for the exhibition Zagłębie and its inhabitants in old photography (1988).^[14]
• Third prize of the Voivodeship Office Department of Culture and Art for the exhibitions Edged weapons of the Polish Army 1914–1945 and Będzin militarily (1997).^[14]

Distinctions

• Distinction of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage for organising the exhibition The old pharmacy (2000).^[14]
• Distinction of the Ministry of Culture and Art in the “Most Important Museum Event of the Year” competition for organising a scholarly session and the exhibition Kantor Mirski – 100th anniversary of birth (1985).^[14]
• Distinction of the Voivodeship Office Department of Culture and Art for the 40th anniversary celebrations of the institution (1998).^[14]
• Distinction of the Voivodeship Office Department of Culture and Art for the exhibition Madonna of Guadalupe – Patroness of Mexico (1995).^[14]
• Diploma from the editorial board of Dziennik Zachodni (“Our city”) for organising the “4th Crafts and Handicrafts Fair”, winner of the poll “Best summer event 2012 in Będzin County” (2012).^[14]
• Diploma of the Voivodeship Office Department of Culture and Art in Katowice for organising a scholarly session and the exhibition Kantor-Mirski – 100th anniversary of birth (1985).^[14]

Historical weapons^[6]

A permanent exhibition occupying rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors of the castle. The two castle halls present a collection showing the development of weapons and armour from the 16th century to the early 20th century. The display includes numerous examples of edged weapons (cutting and pole weapons), firearms, missile weapons, and elements of protective equipment. The collection includes European service weapons as well as ornamental, hunting, and sporting arms, including pieces decorated with mother-of-pearl, ebony, and bone. The first floor presents firearms with shooting accessories and artillery weapons. The holdings are dominated by Western European firearms, including matchlock, flintlock, and percussion-cap weapons. Hunting weapons are also displayed. The room on the second floor presents edged weapons and protective equipment, including armour, helmets, visors, assault helmets, and morions, as well as parts of plate armour such as breastplates, gauntlets, vambraces, and pauldrons.

History of Będzin^[6]

The ground-floor room of the castle houses exhibits related to the history of Będzin from its beginnings to the 20th century. These include documents of Będzin guilds and a medieval parchment containing a hymn in honour of St Catherine, the guild's patron saint. Another group comprises maps, plans, memorabilia, and photographs documenting Będzin and the lives of its inhabitants in earlier times. The exhibition also includes stones and bas-reliefs associated with key events in the city's history.

Temporary exhibition Beginnings of Będzin

From 18 June 2008 until the end of the year, the top floor of the castle hosted a panel exhibition about settlement on Castle Hill and the history of Będzin. The exhibition was prepared by the Archaeology and History Departments of Muzeum Zagłębia. Its authors were Aleksandra Rogaczewska and Jarosław Krajniewski; graphic design of the panels was by Bartosz Gawlik.

• The first (archaeological) part of the exhibition comprised seven panels:
  • A settlement of the Lusatian culture from the late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age;
  • A stronghold from the tribal period – location, administrative relations, defences;
  • Trade contacts of the tribal stronghold;
  • Defence system of the Piast-period stronghold;
  • Craft production in the stronghold;
  • Economic activity within the refugium;
  • Christian burial cemetery.

• The second (historical) part of the exhibition comprised eight panels:
  • Town chartering;
  • Upper castle;
  • Lower castle;
  • Town;
  • Church;
  • Privileges and documents;
  • Inhabitants;
  • Coat of arms, seals.