Podlasie Museum in Białystok

The Podlaskie Museum in Białystok, the largest museum institution in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, was established in 1949 and is headquartered in the rebuilt Branicki Palace. It quickly gained the status of a regional museum, and its structure expanded to include branches in cities such as Łomża, Suwałki, Tykocin, Supraśl, and Bielsk Podlaski. In 1973, the museum was enriched with new locations thanks to the addition of the palace in Choroszcz and other sites, and in 2020, it began to be co-managed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The main headquarters of the museum is located in the Białystok Town Hall, which was formerly a market hall and is an example of corner-tower architecture, with numerous renovations over the centuries. The Town Hall, built thanks to Jan Klemens Branicki, served various commercial functions, and its restoration in the 1950s contributed to its current appearance. The museum aims to protect the cultural heritage of the region, promoting Polish identity in a European context, and its activities include organizing exhibitions, conducting scientific research, and providing education. The museum features a permanent exhibition of over 120 works, including pieces by artists associated with the Branicki court. It also runs a rich educational program for various age groups, making it an important center of regional culture. An interesting fact is that the Podlaskie Museum publishes the "Rocznik Białostocki" (Białystok Yearbook), a scientific periodical that has been issued since 1961. Its collections include many valuable artifacts that document the rich history and culture of Podlasie.