SNM – The Museum of Ukrainian Culture in Svidník is an ethnic institution. Its aim is to document basic stages of cultural, historical, political and social development of Ruthenians - Ukrainians in Slovakia from the earliest times up to the present. The museum was founded in 1956 in Prešov (up to 1993 it was called The Museum of Ukrainian Culture – but in Rusyn language) and it has been situated in Svidník since 1964. Since then systematic collecting work, scientific-research, publishing, methodological-professional, technical and cultural-educational activities have been progressively developed.
SNM – The Museum of Ukrainian Culture in Svidník is the unique specialized and the oldest ethnographic museum in Slovakia.
The cultural and historical development of Ruthenian-Ukrainian population in Slovakia from the earliest times up to the present is documented on the space of 1700 m2. The exposition – besides of its first part which is called MAN AND NATURE that is about flora and fauna of Carpathian nature, which was one of the main determinants of the whole way of human living and influencing the social-economic development in the presented region - is chronologically arranged and it shows human development through historical periods from the PRIMEVAL AGES, through FEUDALISM, CAPITALISM up to CONTEMPORARY DAYS. There are installed unique archeological findings like mammoth’s tusk and mammoth’s tooth from around Svidník, stone axes, amphoral cases and many more as well as medieval written records, records about founding of particular villages, documents about national position of the western Ukrainian population, memorabilia of material and spiritual culture. Particular attention is given to the documentation of Ruthenian-Ukrainian literary efforts.
Slovakia is also homeland for other national ethnic minorities living on its territory except for Slovaks themselves. One of them is minority of Ruthenians - Ukrainians that compactly reside in the north east part of the Slovak Republic and are scattered throughout the whole country. SNM – The Museum of Ukrainian Culture in Svidník is an ethnic institution. Its aim is to document basic stages of cultural, historical, political and social development of Rusyns - Ukrainians in Slovakia from the earliest times up to the present. The museum was founded in 1956 in Prešov (up to 1993 it was called The Museum of Ukrainian Culture – but in Rusyn language) and it has been situated in Svidník since 1964. Since then systematic collecting, scientific-research, publishing, methodological-professional, technical and cultural-educational activities have been progressively developed. Main exposition of the Museum of Ruthenian-Ukrainian Culture in Svidník is cultural-historical exposition. The exposition – besides of its first part which is called MAN AND NATURE that is about flora and fauna of Carpathian nature, which was one of the main determinants of the whole way of human living and influencing the social-economic development in the presented region - is chronologically arranged and it shows human development through historical periods from the PRIMEVAL AGES, through FEUDALISM, CAPITALISM up to CONTEMPORARY DAYS. There are installed unique archeological findings like mammoth’s tusk and mammoth’s tooth from around Svidník, stone axes, amphoral cases and many more as well as medieval written records, records about founding of particular villages, documents about national position of the western Ukrainian population, memorabilia of material and spiritual culture. The particular attention is given to the documentation of the Rusyn-Ukrainians literary efforts.
Protecting the memorabilia of traditional folk culture is one of the top priorities of this specialized Museum of Ruthenian-Ukrainian culture in Svidník. Besides keeping general documentation and presenting material and spiritual culture, the Museum expanded its exposition in 1975 by building open-air ethnographic exposition OPEN-AIR ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM ("SKANZEN”) as being one of its other expositions. Museum management and staff members decided to create complex ethnographic exposition that on the base of substantial material would reproduce village existence and illustrate to its visitors rural life and basic living conditions of people in past times. One of its most realistic forms of presentation is installing expositions in historic objects of traditional folk architecture and as such reproducing one of the important aspects of surrounding environment of past generations. In exposition besides the main types of dwellings there are also presented all types of traditional farm buildings: barns, pigsties, garners, mow buildings, cellars, wells and other smaller buildings or constructions. These historical buildings are used for installations of traditional agricultural and farm equipment – various types of farm cars, ploughs, farm gates, coffers (“súseky”), baskets for corn and other various tools and equipment.
Address:
Centrána 258, 089 01 Svidník
Tel.: +421 54 7882 101
E-mail: muzeum@muk.sk
Web page: www.muk.sk