Some Remarks on the Development Potential of Ethnographic Museums in Poland

The reflections presented in this text are based on over thirty years of experience, ten of which were spent as director of the Andrzej Wawrzyniak Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw. If a museum—nowadays called ethnographic—is to fulfil its mission of showcasing the richness of the world and the diversity of human thought and activity, it must continue to evolve. It should engage in extensive networks and partnerships, both formal and informal, to build trust between itself and its various stakeholders. Moreover, it must participate in public discussions and processes. Such a museum should be grounded in professionalism, courage, and respect. Museum professionals, in turn, must always set high standards for themselves, recognising that freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin.