At the meeting of the Committee on Culture of the Council of Europe at the Palace of Europe (Palais de l’Europe), Professor Śleszyński’s speech was announced by Joan Roca i Albert — a historian, urban planner and the Director of the Museum of the History of Barcelona (Museu d’Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona).

— The Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok shows something that one should not forget. The forced deportations of thousands of people irreversibly changed their lives, some of them even died.

— In the fight against injustice, violence, forced migration and war, museums can play an important role by showing the consequences of these events. This is what the Sybir Memorial Museum does. In addition, we should mention institutional autonomy, intellectual exploration, support of the city and the local community — said Joan Roca i Albert.

— A museum that does not conduct research activities may end up as a cultural attraction, but it will not bring innovation to the way we look at the world. Museums mean knowledge — added the historian.

— The Sybir Memorial Museum has created a space in a very innovative way to give us a place to think and experience emotions. It shows us the fate of people uprooted against their will — said Joan Roca i Albert.

— Although the Sybir Memorial Museum is a Polish museum, it presents the history of the entire Eastern Europe, experienced by the criminal totalitarian system, which was communism. This is not only Polish memory, but the heritage of the whole of Europe. We must do everything to keep this memory alive. This will protect subsequent generations from repeating this experience — said in his speech the Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum, Professor Wojciech Śleszyński.

— The Council of Europe Museum Prize is not only a confirmation of the professional actions of the Sybir Memorial Museum, but it also acknowledges the trust and recognition for our work. This motivates us to take further steps and make every effort to take care of memory and history — concluded Professor Śleszyński.

The most important moment of the day is still ahead of us — the 2024 Council of Europe Museum Prize ceremony at the Strasbourg City Hall.