Section I
General provisions

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęci¬m, hereinafter referred to as the “Museum”, conducts works, in particular, on the basis of:
1)  the Act of 2 July 1947 on commemoration of the martyrdom of the Polish Nation and other Nations in Auschwitz (Journal of Laws of 1947 No 52, item 265, as amended);
2)  the Act of 21 November 1996 on museums (Journal of Laws of 1997 No 5, item 24, as amended);
3)  the Act of 25 October 1991 on organising and conducting cultural activities (unified text of the Journal of Laws of  2001 No 13, item 123, as amended);
4)  the Act of 7 May 1999 on the protection of sites of former Nazi extermination camps (Journal of Laws of 1999 No 41, item 412, as amended);
5)  the Act of 23 July 2003 on the protection and maintenance of monuments (Journal of Laws of 2003 No 162, item 1568, as amended);
6)  the Act of 21 January 1988 on the Council for the Protection of Memory of Combat and Martyrdom (Journal of Laws of 1988 No 2, item 2, as amended);
7)  these statutes.

1.  The organiser of the Museum is the minister responsible for culture and national heritage, hereinafter referred to as "the Minister".
2.  The museum is a state cultural institution entered in the register of cultural institutions maintained by the Minister.
3.  The museum has a legal personality.

1.  The seat of the Museum is in Oświęcim, and its area of operation the Republic of Poland.
2.  The Museum may carry out individual projects related to the implementation of statutory tasks and objectives beyond its national boarders.


Section II
Museum goals and tasks

The goal of the Museum is the activity specified in Art. 1 the Act on museums, in particular:
1)  commemoration and documentation of the Holocaust and the Martyrdom of Nations in the German concentration and extermination camp KL Auschwitz;
2) collection, maintenance, storage and conservation of collections associated with the history of KL Auschwitz, as well as conservation of the grounds and buildings;
3)  access to the areas, buildings and collections of the Museum;
4)  conduct of research in areas related to the activities of the Museum;
5) development and dissemination of the history of KL Au¬schwitz.

The Museum fulfils the goals set out in § 4 through:
1)  conservation and preservation of buildings, equipment and former camp relics and historical collections and art collections of World War II;
2)  amassing a collection through recoveries, purchases, gifts, bequests, deposits, as well as through written reports and recordings on tape and video;
3)  preparation of inventories, catalogues, directories and indexes and computer records;
4)  conduct of interdisciplinary scientific research within the field of World War II, with particular emphasis on crimes of genocide and their consequences;
5)  conduct of publishing activities including, among others - presenting research results in the form of publications;
6)  conduct of education and educational-pedagogical activities consisting of:
a)   organisation of scientific and popular science sessions, seminars, readings, meetings, museum lectures and others,
b)  provision of various forms of substantive care whilst visiting the Museum, including the services of guides,
c)  share of their collections for scientific, educational, judicial process purposes and for the needs of former prisoners and their families;
7)  organisation of permanent and temporary exhibitions;
8) cooperation in the implementation of documentary and educational films;
9) cooperation with national and foreign institutions and organisations which pursue goals similar to those of the Museum;
10) organisation of ceremonies commemorating events related to the history of KL Auschwitz.


Section III
Museum organisation

The Museum consists of the following departments:

1)  Archives;

2)  Department of Collections;

3)  Department of Conservation;

4)  Department of Research;

5)  Department of Exhibitions;

6)  Department of Publishing;

7)  Library;

8)  International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust;

9)  Department of Economics;

10)  Department of Finance and Accounting;

11)  Department of Museum Protection;

12)  Department of Administration.

Detailed internal organization of the Museum, scopes of tasks of divisions, organisational units and independent workstations are made on the basis of organisational rules and regulations issued by the director of the Museum after receiving the opinion of the Minister and opinions of trade unions and associations of authors operating in the Museum.

1. Creation, merger, transformation and liquidation of Museum departments is made on the basis of orders issued by the Minister.
2. Creation, merger, transformation and liquidation of organisational units and independent workstations not listed in § 6 are made on the basis of orders issued by the director of the Museum.

Section IV
Museum supervision and management

1.  The Museum is managed by a director, who is appointed and dismissed by the Minister under the principles and procedures provided for in the applicable legislation.
2. The director manages the activities of the Museum through the help of deputies, numbering from one to three.
3. Deputies are appointed and dismissed by the director of the Museum, in consultation with the Minister.

The scope of activities of the director of the Museum include, in particular:
1) management of the Museum and its external representation;
2) leadership in scientific, educational, organisational and administrative matters;
3)  supervision of Museum collections and property;
4)  presentation of tangible and financial plans, reports and financial-investment proposals to relevant institutions and supervisory authorities;
5) approval of financial expenditures within the limits of the funds available;
6) creation of conditions for the development of the professional qualifications of employees;
7) issuance of rules and regulations and internal decrees in a stipulated manner;
8) conclusion and termination of employment contracts with employees of the Museum and making decisions resulting from employment relations.

Direct supervision over the Museum is held by the Minister, who provides the Museum with the measures necessary for its maintenance and development.

1. Through the Museum operates the Museum Council, whose members are appointed and dismissed by the Minister under the principles and in the manner prescribed by the Act on museums.
2.  The Museum Council operates within the scope specified in Art. 11 the Act on museums.
3. The Museum Council consists of 10 people.

1. Through the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust operates the Council, whose members are appointed and dismissed by the Minister at the request of the International Auschwitz Council
2. The Council of the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust operates under the accepted Regulation.
3. The Council of the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust consists of 10 people.

The consultative and advisory body for the activities of the Museum is the International Auschwitz Council.

Deliberative and welfare functions for the Museum are performed by the Council for the Protection of Memory of Combat and Martyrdom.


Section V
Museum finances

The Museum conducts financial management upon the principles specified in the Act on organising and conducting cultural activities.

The activity of the Museum is financed by grants from the Minister, from the proceeds obtained from operations, from funds received from individuals and legal persons and other sources.

The director of the Museum shall ensure timely preparation of annual financial statements, its obligatory investigation by a certified auditor and submit it for approval to the Minister.

1. The Museum may, on the principles provided for in existing provisions, pursue additional economic activity, in particular in the field of:
            1) rental and leasing of movable and immovable assets;
            2) sale of publications (including albums, books, posters, postcards, films);
            3)  services related to tourism;
            4)  organisation of conferences, seminars, etc.;
            5)  services in the field of conservation.
2. The revenues derived from the activities referred to in paragraph 1 may only be used to finance the activities of the registered Museum.

1.  For filing, on behalf of the Museum, statements of will and performance of legal activities within the scope of its rights and proprietary obligations, joint actions of two persons are required, i.e. the director and the chief accountant.
2.  The director may issue a written power of attorney to perform the legal acts referred to in paragraph 1 to his deputies or deputy chief accountant.


Section VI
Final provisions

Merger, division or liquidation of the Museum may be performed by the Minister under the conditions and procedures specified in applicable regulations.

Changes to the statutes may be performed in a manner determined for its granting.
 
[Official Journal of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage No 5, Item 67]

Please note! This translation is a courtesy; in all legal disputes, the sole reference point for the statutes and regulations is the Polish language version.