Muzeum Instrumentów Muzycznych w Poznaniu

About the museum

The Muzeum Instrumentów Muzycznych (Museum of Musical Instruments) is the only museum in Poland that collects both instruments of art music and traditional instruments from cultures around the world. Its initiator was Zdzisław Szulc, who in 1945 proposed the creation of Polish Music Collections (Polskie Zbiory Muzyczne). In November 1945 he obtained consent for an instrument department within the Muzeum Wielkopolskie (Museum of Greater Poland), and in May 1946 the first separate exhibition of musical instruments in the history of Polish museums was opened.

In 1949 the exhibition “Chopin 1810–1849” was organised, with 365 objects, including the piano from Antonin on which Fryderyk Chopin probably played. That same year the first New Year’s Eve concert (Koncert Sylwestrowy) took place, a tradition that continues today. In 1952 the branch was moved to the Kamienica Grodzkich on the corner of the Old Market and ulica Woźna, and the permanent exhibition opened in 1953.

Since 1957 the museum has hosted the Henryk Wieniawski International Luthiers’ Competition (Międzynarodowy Konkurs Lutniczy im. Henryka Wieniawskiego), held every five years. After a renovation lasting several years, a completely new exhibition with tablets and a multimedia app, in which visitors can read about the instruments and listen to their sound, was opened on 13 September 2019. The most valuable part of the collection is a set of over 200 bowed instruments, including works by the Polish luthiers Jan Dankwart and Marcin Groblicz.

Highlights

• Over 200 bowed instruments, including works by Jan Dankwart and Marcin Groblicz
• Instruments by Italian masters of lutherie, including Amati and Guadagnini
• Piano from Antonin associated with Fryderyk Chopin
• Traditional instruments of the world’s cultures
• Multimedia app featuring the sounds of the instruments

Permanent exhibition

• Ekspozycja stała Muzeum Instrumentów Muzycznych – New exhibition opened in 2019, spread over the ground floor and the first and second floors, presenting bowed, plucked, wind, keyboard and mechanical instruments, as well as instruments from cultures around the world.

Founded

1945

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Tuesdays.

A multimedia guide can be downloaded as part of the ticket price. The museum accepts the Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) and the Poznań Tourist Card (Poznańska Karta Turystyczna).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is housed in a two-storey tenement house without a lift. The ground floor is partly accessible (the threshold at the entrance door is about 3.5 cm, and before the last room there is a threshold of about 18 cm), but a wheelchair cannot go up to the first and second floors. You can buy a ticket only for the exhibition on the ground floor. The building has no toilet for people with disabilities. There is an induction loop at the ticket office and in the shop, and the building’s façade has the TOTUPOINT navigation system for blind people. Designated parking spaces for people with disabilities are on the nearby streets.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a small shop in the building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit