Historyczne mury dla nowych muzeów. Muzealna moda na początku XXI wieku

The Author considers a trend, which comes from the west, to use post-industrial developments for museums. The article includes issues concerning adaptation of post-industrial developments for museum functions, references to history and identity of the building concerned, as well as relations of an institution — which is hosted within the historical construction — with the surroundings. The museums which have been selected for the analysis are representative for a boom observed in Poland since the beginning of the 21st century — the majority of newly-established museums are located in adapted old buildings, the museums representing almost exclusively only two categories: historical museums and contemporary art museums. The Author seeks an answer to a question whether museums must follow current trends. She concludes that a quest for success translating to a good image and high attendance is and certainly shall remain an important goal of a museum. She warns, however, of dangers related with a museum trying to be a “trendy” place to attend, especially in the times of public life commercialization, which is more and more common.