The Museum As a Space of Social Relations. the Museum of Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory in Krakow and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews Polin in Warsaw.

            Museums are ambiguous spaces. On the one hand, they provide some models built on social perceptions, and on the other, they are places open to interpretation. They are relational spaces. Spaces of various types of relations like institutional, interpersonal, international, intergeneration or intercultural relations. They are also places of relations and dialogue, establishing and negotiating meanings. In any event, museums are also, and perhaps above all, stories about people, events and the effects of their meetings.

            Museums are primarily social concept spaces. As noted by Bronis³aw Baczko "to determine your collective identity is yet to designate its" territory "and its boundaries, define their relationship with the" other ", to create images of friends and foes, rivals and allies". My argument is that museums are those social spaces that offer social ideas, which usually fit within certain models.

            In the case of Polish communism, for many years the museum space was reserved for events accepted by the authorities. And organized exhibitions usually served to enhance propaganda power. However, after the fall of the communist system there was a need to tell the story, running memory, and recreate historical events which were relevant and important to the Polish nation. There was a huge gap, with its reduction becoming a more and more apparent need for Polish society.

In my presentation, I would like to present the results of qualitative research devoted to the reception of the museum, which was conducted in two museums  the Museum of Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory in Krakow and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN in Warsaw. The project was titled My way, my choice. "I” am in the museum. In presenting the results, I would like to pay special attention to the imaginative and relational character of the museum space.