Museum of Contemporary Art: Preliminary Launch In Podgorze
One of Cracow's boldest investments in recent years was unveiled on November 16th in the Podgorze district.
MOCAK (The Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow), was designed by noted Italian architect Claudio Nardi, who won over the jury during the official competition in 2007. The entire project has cost 70 million złoty (25 million euro), half of which came from EU funds. Although there is not a huge amount to see in terms of art quite yet, the building itself is open to the public, with free entry until December 6th.
Comprising of some 10 000 m2 of space, the museum incorporates a large section of what was the Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory. The decision to construct an art gallery on a site so intimately connected with the Holocaust initially caused a great deal of controversy. However, the opening of a branch of the city's historical museum this July in an adjacent building has provided balance. The permanent exhibition there ,"Krakow Under The Nazi Occupation" can be visited in what was the administrative building of Oskar Schindler's Factory.
Meanwhile, the Museum of Contemporary Art is open to the public. In spite of the modest amount of art on show at present, Cracow Life wholeheartedly recommends a visit. Claudio Nardi's building has immediately taken its place as one of the most significant contemporary buildings in the city. An exhibition, "Architecture For Sensitive Lives", is on show, as well as projections of films including a documentary with English subtitles about the intriguing history of this post-industrial district. Visitors can take a tram to Plac Bohaterow Getta, and then walk down Kacik Street towards the Schindler Factory.
Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków
ul. Rzeźnicza 2a
31-540 Kraków
Official MOCAK Site