Closing ceremony of the Gdańsk Crane restoration project

The largest renovation of the Gdańsk Crane in the last half-century has just come to an end. More than three years of comprehensive renovation and work on a new permanent exhibition, this is the first such extensive modernisation of the iconic monument since it was rebuilt from the World War II damage. On 29 April 2024, guests from the world of politics, science and culture, led by representatives from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as the Polish ministries of culture and national heritage as well as development funds and regional policy, attended a ceremony to mark the completion of this landmark project.

A one-of-a-kind monument in Europe

It was the EEA and Norway Grants, as well as funds from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage that made it possible to realise a gigantic undertaking to restore and preserve a priceless Gdańsk monument for future generations. The Crane – a 15th-century harbour crane and at the same time the water gate of the city – is not only an unquestionable symbol of Gdańsk, but also the oldest and largest structure of its kind in Europe. ‘Three years of hard but also very rewarding work are behind us.’ – summarised Dr Robert Domżał, Director of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, during Monday’s ceremony. ‘Today we have the pleasure of presenting to you the results of the revitalisation of a unique monument. The Crane, which in the past played a key role in the life of the port, as the city’s gateway and its largest crane, is now a unique object of cultural heritage and a symbol of Gdańsk.’ – emphasised the director. The completion of the project coincided with the celebrations of Poland’s 20th anniversary in the European Union. Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Marta Cienkowska noted that the effects of cooperation with both the Union’s institutions and the countries of the European Economic Area are visible throughout Poland. ‘The exchange of experiences and activities in cooperation with Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway are of special importance to us. I believe that our meeting today is the beginning of many upcoming summaries of successful projects.’ – said the Deputy Minister during her speech. In turn, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy Konrad Wojnarowski stated: ‘Żuraw is a unique place, both for Gdańsk and for Poland as a whole; it is a historical site and at the same time an important tourist spot. The successful completion of its revitalisation is one of those moments where we can see and touch the effects of the EEA and Norway Grants.’

Symbol of community and international solidarity

Among more than a hundred guests, the ceremony was also graced by the presence of representatives of donor countries: His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Poland Øystein Bø, the representative of the Icelandic Embassy in Poland Jan Hernik and the First Secretary of the Liechtenstein Diplomatic Mission to the European Union Alina Brunhart. Ambassador Bø expressed his pride that his homeland was able to contribute to the largest restoration of the Crane in half a century: ‘The functioning of the EEA and Norway Grants is based on values such as community, solidarity and human rights. One may ask: why is it so important to invest in European monuments? Culture is an extremely important part of our identity; by caring for cultural heritage, we strengthen European identity and solidarity. There are also economic benefits, such as building tourism potential, creating jobs and supporting a sustainable economy.’ – added the ambassador. Magdalena Adamowicz, Member of the European Parliament, also referred to these ideas in her speech, emphasising that it is the Solidarity, alongside the Crane and the Neptune, that is one of the most recognisable symbols of Gdańsk. Piotr Grzelak, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk for Sustainable Development and Investment, also mentioned the community: ‘Thank you for caring and looking after what is the heart of Gdańsk. Żuraw is the meeting point of the city’s former economic bloodstream with today’s values, dear to each of us; as an open gate, it symbolises the gateway to dialogue and cooperation.’ The Crane’s past as a key element of the economy of the former Hanseatic city of Gdańsk also featured on that day in the film “Connecting Landmarks”, screened for the premiere at the ceremony. The production, made jointly with the Norwegian project partners: Museum Vest and Museum Lindesnes, highlighted the interdependence between European states for centuries, strengthened by maritime trade and economic exchange. In this context, the Hanseatic League of the time is seen as the progenitor of today’s European community.

The joint work of an interdisciplinary team of museum professionals

‘Today we are talking above all about the wonderful results of the revitalisation of the Crane, but we must remember that they would not have happened if it were not for our team.’ – remarked Szymon Kulas, the NMM Deputy Director for Management, thanking the museum staff for their commitment. Both the external renovation of the monument: the replacement of the roof, the restoration of the foundations and facades and the conservation of the wooden lift, as well as the comprehensive renovation of the interior with its modernisation, required the intensive, multi-year effort of an interdisciplinary group of museum specialists. Extremely meticulous work has been done to create a new permanent exhibition inside the Crane. ‘Every museum exhibition is a collective work, a contribution of many people, without whose commitment a good exhibition cannot exist,’ said Dr Marcin Westphal, the NMM Deputy Director for Science, in conclusion. ‘For the result of this work, I would especially like to thank the staff who make up the exhibition’s author team.’ The museum management also expressed its gratitude to the staff of the renovation contractor, the Skorłutowski Construction Company, the exhibition designer Dorota Zalewska (Project 007), and the museums that supported the project with their expertise and the artefacts they made available. At the end of the ceremony, Dr Robert Domżał, Dr Marcin Westphal and Jadwiga Klim, a member of the author’s team, showed the guests around the new Crane exhibition. The exhibition portrays the port city of Gdańsk during the Golden Age, i.e. during the seventeenth-century heyday of shipping and maritime trade in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Thanks to in-depth source research carried out by the museum’s curators, the spaces of the monument have been transformed into immersive historical rooms, decorated, among other things, to resemble interiors known from 17th-century paintings. The exhibition relies equally on both traditional media and interactive multimedia. Its cinematic narrative is led by the historical figure of Hans Kross, a merchant and shipowner living in 17th-century Gdańsk. A special place in the exhibition is a collection of unique archaeological artefacts discovered during the renovation of the basement inside and around the Crane.
Editor: Hanna Borkowska

The project “Maintenance, renovation and modernization of the Gdańsk Crane – a branch of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk with the creation of a new permanent exhibition” is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

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