DARIUSZ STOLA
HAS BEEN APPOINTED D
IRECTOR OF POLIN MUSEUM
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Professor Stola is a historian specializing in contemporary Polish history and Polish–Jewish relations. He is the author of more than 130 scholarly articles and six books, as well as an experienced cultural institution manager. He previously served as Director of POLIN Museum in the years 2014-2019, which is when the Core Exhibition was opened. The program he co-created—the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of March ’68 in particular—helped confirm the institution’s standing as one of Europe’s leading history museums.
Professor Stola serves on the boards of several academic and museum institutions. Since 2024, he has chaired the International Auschwitz Council and, since 2023, he has been a member of the Academic Council of the Institute of Political Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Irena Sendler Award (funded by Taube Philanthropies) and the City of Warsaw Award in 2020. In 2025, he was honored with the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis.
Dariusz Stola emphasizes that the mission of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is to restore and preserve the memory of the history of Polish Jews, to build mutual understanding, and to counter antisemitism. His goal is to further strengthen the Museum’s position as a leading European center of knowledge on Polish–Jewish history—an institution committed to reliable public debate, open to diverse audiences, and actively engaged in international cooperation.
The program for the years 2026–2031 envisages the continuation and development of the Museum’s existing strategy. The new director highlights some of the key priorities: modernizing selected elements of the Core Exhibition, expanding the Museum’s digital offer, enlarging and systematically developing both material and digital collections. Professor Stola also plans to implement an ambitious temporary exhibition program, beginning in 2027 with the first exhibition in Poland devoted to Barnett Newman, American abstract painter of Polish descent. Education will remain a priority—the continued development of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Campaign, programs for teachers and young people, and an innovative youth engagement initiative. Another important objective will be to support local initiatives dedicated to the preservation of Jewish heritage across Poland through the POLIN Award.
Professor Dariusz Stola has been appointed Director of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews for a five-year term. He received his nomination from Marta Cienkowska, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, on 19 February. Professor Stola will succeed Zygmunt Stępiński, whose second term as director comes to an end on 28 February.
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