The solemn opening of the “In UNESCO Treasury. Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka” art photo exhibition was held on May 17, 2016.

The presentation of the exposition was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Embassy of Poland in Ukraine, Polish Institute in Kyiv and the Polish Diaspora.

The welcome speech was given by the Ambassador-At-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhii Reva, Historical and Cultural Preserves Development Head at the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine Bohdan Motsia, the Director of the Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka Jan Godlovsky, the Director of the Polish Institute in Kyiv Eva Figel and the Head of the Kyiv-based Zhoda National Cultural Association of Polish people Ms Viktoriia Radik, General Director of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve Liubomyr Mykhailyna.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture focused their attention on the formats of Ukrainian and Polish cooperation as an important condition for the further promotion, protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of the two countries at  international level. In particular, the statement by the Ukrainian Culture Minister Yevhen Nyshchuk, which was read out by Bohdan Motsia, outlined the intense, diverse and open cooperation in the field of culture between Ukraine and Poland in recent years as the main driving force for strengthening bilateral partnership. The Ukrainian Culture Minister expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the event – the General Director of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, Mr. Liubomyr Mykhailyna, and the Director of the Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka, Mr Jan Godlovsky, thanks to the efforts of whom the diversification and extension of Ukrainian and Polish relations are being implemented in practice. “It is a pleasure to note that the exhibition of the Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka was preceded by the exhibition of the Kyiv Pechersk Preserve ’Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – Ukrainian Holy Place’ staged in 2014 in Poland and which enabled the Polish community to learn about a gem of Ukrainian cultural heritage, a real keeper of Orthodox art, spiritual and historical values. I think this is a good example of the museum integration, which is worth imitating and repeating,” according to Yevhen Nyshchuk’s statement.

According to Liubomyr Mykhaylyna, the exhibition, which was organized within the framework of cooperation between two cultural institutions included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, smoothly combined two pearls of World Heritage in one space. The Preserve’s General Director expressed his hope that the cooperation initiated between Ukrainian and Polish museums last year would be continued in future joint exhibitions, conferences, or publications.

In the welcoming remarks Jan Godlovsky provided a brief background of the history of the Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka and Royal Saltworks Castle. He also said that the link to religion via Polish and Ukrainian national museums is an important unifying aspect.

Eva Figel said that the exposition presentation is another important step towards Ukraine's integration into Europe.

The festive holiday atmosphere was underlined with the live sound of national Polish and Ukrainian songs performed by the Honorary Worker of Culture of Ukraine and Honorary Worker of Culture of Poland Viktoriia Radik and the model art group Theatre of Song named after Ladonky under the direction of Svitlana Sadovenko.

Photo exhibition “In UNESCO Treasury. Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka” created by one of the largest mining museums in Europe – Krakow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka will introduce connoisseurs of visual photo art to impressive interiors and rare exhibits of Polish cultural heritage, such as a unique collection of salt-cellars. The museum exhibits are located in the Wieliczka Salt Mine (at a depth of 135 meters) and the Royal Saltworks Castle. Both facilities had operated within one saltworks for seven centuries. In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2013, the Castle was also included in the List.

The exhibition will run until July 16, 2016 at: 9 Lavrska St., first tier exhibition room of Great Lavra Bell Tower, Kyiv.