The idea ‘Night in the museums’ originated in France in 2005 offering entertainment for a wider public. This event takes place in May and year-by-year its popularity is increasing. No wonder – this is the only opportunity to visit a museum in the magical atmosphere of the night.

The Silesian Museum joined the ‘Night...’ event at the very beginning. Each year new attractions are added: shows, interactive activities for children and adults, lectures, concerts and meetings with artists. Our guests have been: Elżbieta Dzikowska - a well-known traveller, Rozalia Szypułowa – a glass painter and Józef Szypuła – a sculptor.

We have enjoyed many concerts ranging from Jacenty Ignatowicz playing on a leaf, a jazz concert by Henryk Gembalski to the popular accordion group ‘Motion Trio’. The scenery chosen for the night in 2009 was in the old mechanics workshop of the ‘Katowice’ Coalmine with the historical, 19thcentury industrial machines. Visits to the same coalmine – future site of the Silesian Museum – were already part of the 2008 and 2009 ‘Silesian Museum Nights’.

The Centre of Polish Stage Sets, the department of the Silesian Museum also invites visitors for this special night offering theatre workshops, film shows and meetings with different guests. In 2009 it was the well-known Polish stage designer and theatre director Leszek Mądzik who came to our museum.

For that night commuting between museums is easy as KZK GOP provides a free bus service.