Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow, known as MOCAK, was opened on May 19, 2011, although the idea of its establishment had been discussed for many years in the artistic community. The museum is located in the revitalized complex of the former Schindler's Factory, and its building was designed by architect Claudio Nardi, drawing on neomodernism with the use of natural light and simple lines. The construction cost amounted to over 70 million złoty, half of which came from European Union funds. MOCAK collects a contemporary art collection, featuring works by over two hundred artists, such as Marina Abramović, Katarzyna Kozyra, and Edward Dwurnik. The museum also conducts educational activities, focusing on openness to art and diversity of audience groups. In addition to its artistic collections, MOCAK houses the Mieczysław Porębski Library, which contains a rich collection of books related to art criticism and theory. Controversies accompanied the appointment of the museum's directorship and issues related to censorship, for example, concerning the exhibition of works by artist Tomasz Mróz. The museum has become an important point on Krakow's cultural map, combining the presentation of contemporary art with active engagement of local communities.