We are pleased to announce that in February 2023 a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Faculty of International and Political Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the Municipal Museum in Żory regarding cooperation between the Museum and the Jagiellonian Research Center for African Studies (an interfaculty unit co-created by the Faculty of International and Political Studies).

The agreement aims at cooperation in the field of African studies in the scope of research, educational, and organizational activities. As part of it, it will be possible carrying out joint research and educational projects, organizing workshops, seminars, academic and popular science conferences, as well as exhibitions. There is also a possibility of student internships in the Municipal Museum in Żory. As part of the implementation of the agreement, joint efforts will also made to apply for funds from external entities.

The Municipal Museum in Żory is a thriving modern cultural institution that conducts scientific research and can pride itself on having interesting ethnographic regional and non-European collections, among which predominate exhibits from Africa. The Museum’s African collection began with the acquisition of objects from West Africa. Over time, however, objects from other regions of the continent also started to be collected. Currently, the collection has over 4,000 items that have been obtained through purchases and donations or brought from field research in Africa.