Co-create with us an exhibition on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Arsenal Gallery in Bialystok!

To the people of Białystok and everyone who cherishes our city,

In 2025, Arsenal Gallery in Białystok will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary. We warmly invite you to join us in commemorating this milestone at the exhibition:

Arsenał 60! On Collecting, Collection, and the Love of Arsenal

As you may know, the Gallery has been creating a remarkable collection of contemporary art, presenting works from its archives in prestigious institutions across Poland and worldwide, as well as in its own venues. To mark our anniversary, we invite you to reflect on the role our institution and contemporary art play in our city – and to contribute to shaping the jubilee exhibition.

The pieces in Collection II, which has grown since 1990, carry stories and memories from the past, while also pointing toward the future. They express ideas, dreams, and values and sometimes cast light on things we might prefer to forget. They reveal both the brightest and darkest facets of humanity. Art, after all, is more than just an object within the walls of a gallery; it’s a catalyst for emotions and insights that touch us. Exhibition curators Tania Kochubinska and Lena Prents have envisioned the jubilee exhibition around three thematic pillars: CLOSENESS – MEMORY – VALUES.

We invite you to reflect on which pieces in Collection II best capture these themes. Choose one piece and, in a few sentences, share the thoughts, reflections, and emotions behind your choice.

On our website, you can browse the catalogs of works from Collection II of Arsenal Gallery in Białystok:

• Work catalog: https://galeria-arsenal.pl/prace
• Catalog by artist names: https://galeria-arsenal.pl/artysci

The curators will select works from the pieces you recommend to create a unique exhibition, which will be on display at Arsenal Gallery in Białystok from April 11 to September 7, 2025.

Your selected works and written reflections may also be used to promote events for the jubilee celebrations.

Please submit your chosen works from Collection II using the application form: https://forms.gle/9eWeH2MdKKe8f8uT8

Submissions are open until December 1, 2024.