Activities of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia with Regard to Developing Symbolic and Identity Ties with the Polish Diaspora
Activities of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia with Regard to Developing Symbolic and Identity Ties with the Polish Diaspora

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to outline the activities of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia (Polish abbrev. MEG) inbuilding relations with the Polish diaspora and maintaining Polish identity among Poles and peoplewith Polish ancestry living abroad. Its main thesis is that the MEG, as a comparatively small institution, has a relatively large potential for shaping symbolic and identity ties with the Polish diasporaand could potentially be an important actor for activities undertaken in this sphere, implementedas part of a broadly defined policy with regard to and for Poles living abroad. The article consistsof an introduction, three main sections and a conclusion. In the first section, we briefly define thediasporic policy in its subject and object dimensions, present selected concepts that typify this policy, and point out the role of culture and cultural institutions in building symbolic and identity tieswith the diaspora. The second section was devoted to presenting the history, circumstances of theestablishment and organizational basis of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia. The museum, although technically a self-government cultural institution, is the first and only museum in the country to show the history of emigration from Poland and Polish lands in a comprehensive way. Sectionthree, on the other hand, focuses on showcasing selected MEG activities in forming symbolic andidentity ties with the Polish diaspora.

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