7 May saw the grand opening of the exhibition A Gift of Beauty in the JU Collegium Maius. The exhibition displays selected items from the collection of the JU Museum and the JU Archive, which were donated to the Jagiellonian University by various patrons or are dedicated to the memory of its greatest donors. Besides, the exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the grand opening of JU Museum in Collegium Maius in 1964, during the University's 600th Jubilee.

The grand opening of the exhibition was led by the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Wojciech Nowak and the Director of the Jagiellonian University Museum, Prof. Krzysztof Stopka. The persons present at the ceremony also included: JU Vice-Rectors: Prof. Maria-Jolanta Flis, Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, and Prof. Jacek Popiel, JU Bursar, Teresa Kapcia, Chairman of Małopolska Regional Assembly, Kazimierz Barczyk, Vice-President of the City of Kraków, Tadeusz Matusz, and the Consul of Slovakia to Kraków, Ivan Skorupa.

In his address the Rector stressed the role of patronage in the University's foundation and growth and paid tribute to all benefactors whose generosity contributed to the development of science and education in Poland.

The exhibition illustrates that the University would never have been able to flourish if not for the continuous support of its patrons, from the founding monarchs, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie and professors to the modern government representatives and generous countrymen. Many of these benefactors have been JU alumni. The exhibition is also a form of expressing gratitude to all these people and acknowledging their commitment.

It should be noted that Collegium Maius was the king's donation itself, which developed and prospered thanks to the generosity of various benefactors. A number of tokens, such as plaques or portals, from currently nonexistent buildings that were once donated to the university are also kept there.

The exhibition is to be accompanied by a publication containing the information about the University's history, a list of its benefactors, as well as some essays about its buildings, collections, and items presented at the exhibition.

The event is organised under the honorary auspices of the First lady of the Republic of Poland, Mrs. Anna Komorowska.

The exhibition will be open until August 6. The admission is free.

Opening hours:
Monday, Friday, Saturday 10.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Sunday 11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Wednesday - closed

Pictures by Anna Wojnar