Ternopil Oblast Museum


The Ternopil Oblast Museum is a regional museum in the city of Ternopil, the largest collection of artifacts and materials related to the nature, history, ethnography, and everyday life of the Ternopil Oblast, and the oldest cultural and educational institution in the Oblast.
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History

The Ternopil Oblast Museum was founded in 1913. It was officially opened on 13 April 1913 as the of the former real school at 17 Briuknera Street.
During the Nazi occupation, the museum continued to operate. On 19 August 1943, the Gestapo confiscated 49 of the museum's most valuable paintings, including works by Western European artists of the 18th-19th centuries and Polish artists - "Return from War" by Józef Brandt, "Landscape" by Józef Chełmoński, "View of Kraków" and "View from the Window" by Leon Wyczółkowski, and others. The fate of these artistic masterpieces remains unknown to this day. However, museum employee managed to save a significant part of the museum's collections from looting. She personally hid the most valuable items in the deep museum basements, risking her life in the process.
During the battles for Ternopil, the museum building suffered extensive damage: the roof and third floor were completely destroyed, the second floor was partially destroyed, windows and doors were broken, etc. Exhibits and museum equipment were severely damaged. Repair work began on 20 September 1944, and on 15 July 1945, the Ternopil Oblast Museum reopened its doors to visitors. In the 1960s and 1970s, the museum's collection included icons and carvings from closed churches in the Ternopil Oblast, including unique bas-reliefs and sculptures by Johann Georg Pinsel from the Church of the Intercession in Buchach, statues by from the Bernardine Monastery in Zbarazh, illustrated old prints from the 17th-18th centuries, published in the printing houses of the Pochaiv and Kyiv Pechersk Lavras, and the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood. The building and interior of the museum were damaged during the war and required major repairs, so the exhibition was closed for a long time starting in 1968. After the restoration of the 18th-century Dominican Church, one of the museum's departments, the Ternopil Art Gallery, was opened there on 6 May 1978. The collection of works of fine art from the Museum formed the basis of its exhibition, and the archaeologist, art historian, and historian Ihor Gereta became its permanent director. Thanks to the persistence and efforts of director Venedykt Lavreniuk, the construction of a specially designed building for the Museum in a new location was completed, and its grand opening took place on 30 December 1982. A new exhibition was created, in line with the latest developments in museum science. And in the following year, 1983, the Ternopil Oblast Museum became a diploma winner at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy.
In 2022, the museum will have seven departments: three exhibition departments, as well as departments for collections, scientific and methodological work, scientific and educational work, and art and advertising.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Ternopil Oblast Museum was one of the most important scientific and educational institutions in Ukraine. It employed 42 researchers who were responsible for all aspects of the museum's activities: research, education, exhibitions, publishing, collection development, preservation of historical and cultural artifacts, and scientific and methodological work.
Thanks to the museum's cooperation with the Ukrainian and Western diaspora, thousands of exhibits were received in the 1990s, including paintings by Jacques Hnizdovsky, Mykhailo Moroz, O. Kendl, and other artists, documentary and photographic materials on national history and national liberation struggles, as well as philatelic and numismatic collections. Correspondence was conducted with dozens of Ukrainian figures in the United States, Canada, England, Germany, and Australia.
In 1996, Ukraine's first Historical and Memorial Museum of Political Prisoners was opened in a separate building as a branch of the museum. From 2019, it has been part of the Museum of the National Liberation Struggle of Ternopil Oblast.
The museum holds annual exhibitions from its collections. Traditionally, these are Christmas and Easter exhibitions, old times art, sacred art, antiquity items, etc. The most numerous are personal exhibitions of contemporary artists and masters of fine and folk art. Ceremonial events are held on memorable dates and anniversaries, scientific conferences, and educational quests for schoolchildren.

Collections and exhibition

The museum's collection includes over 256,000 exhibits. Particularly large are the collections of Ukrainian folk clothing from various Ternopil Oblast regions, fine and decorative arts, numismatics, philately, documents and photographs, and household items.
The following items are of unique significance among the exhibits of the Ternopil Oblast Museum: archaeological artifacts, 312 weapons, a valuable collection of icons from the 17th to early 19th centuries, old prints from the Pochaiv Lavra from the 17th-18th centuries, examples of Ukrainian national costumes from different Ternopil Oblast, carpets from the 19th-century weaving workshops of Vikniany, gold weaving from the Buchach manufactories, and Western European art from the 17th to early 19th centuries.
The museum's permanent exhibition comprises approximately 12,000 items.
The nature section's exhibit introduces visitors to the geographical location, geological history and structure, mineral resources, relief, waters, climate, flora and fauna of the region, and the characteristic landscapes of Ternopil Oblast.
The exhibition of ancient, medieval, and modern history presents materials reflecting the primitive communal, feudal, and capitalist systems of our region, covering the period from ancient times to World War I.
The Department of Modern History covers the period from World War I to the present day.
The museum has an exhibition hall where monthly exhibitions of materials from its collection are held, as well as exhibitions from other museums in Ukraine and abroad, exhibitions of contemporary Ukrainian artists, and thematic exhibitions as part of All-Ukrainian projects. Materials from the collection have been presented at international exhibitions in Poland, Germany, and Romania.
In November 2021, the Ternopil Regional Local History Museum presented an exhibition entitled "Taiemnytsi davnioho pysma". Here you can see ancient notebooks, inkwells, old prints, pens, century-old school photos, blackboards, and a sandbox.

Notable employees and directors

Directors

  • — 1959–1975;
  • — 1976–2003;
  • Mykola Levchuk — 2003–2005;
  • — 2005–2021;
  • — from 2021.

Former

  • — Ukrainian museum expert, local historian, and educator;
  • Ihor Gereta — Ukrainian archaeologist, art historian, historian, Honored Artist of Ukraine, poet, teacher, and public and political figure;
  • — Ukrainian historian, art historian, educator, artist, and cultural figure;
  • — Ukrainian historian, local historian, scientist, professor, and candidate of historical sciences;
  • — Ukrainian writer, journalist, public and political figure, educator, People's Deputy of Ukraine of the 1st convocation ;
  • — Ukrainian historian, museum expert, local historian, publicist.
  • — Ukrainian art historian, public figure. Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine ;
  • — Ukrainian historian, archaeologist;
  • — Ukrainian historian, local historian;
  • — Ukrainian educator, museum worker, historian, local historian, public and political figure;
  • — Ukrainian historian, archaeologist, educator;
  • — Ukrainian historian, ethnographer, monument preservationist;
  • — Ukrainian historian, archaeologist, monument preservationist;
  • — Ukrainian local historian, museum expert, member of the board of the Ternopil Regional Organization of the National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine.

Present

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