An important other goal of the museum will be to promote cross-border cultural cooperation between Poland and Germany. The museum is near the border of Germany and will therefore serve as a unique platform for artistic exchange and cooperation between these two countries.
The building of the ewa partum museum, in the village of Dęby in Poland, has an important place in German-Polish history. Before 1945 the village, then known as Daube, was on German territory and belonged to the district of Crossen/Oder, in the province of Brandenburg. After the Second World War the area was ceded to Poland as part of the XXX agreement.
In the early 20th century, the building of the museum served as an inn and a ballroom, providing a gathering place for the local community for social activities such as dancing. After 1945 the manor building was repurposed as a common room, where the village community would convene for weddings and other communal events.
This historical background adds depth and context to the museum’s location, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the local community with the broader historical and cultural narratives of the region. The aim is to transform it into a place of community again, where residents and visitors can come together, engage with art and participate in cultural activities.
Ewa Partum’s biography is intimately tied to the place. The artist´s personal journey reflects the complexities and challenges of history. Having emigrated from Poland to West-Berlin in 1982 due to the political situation in socialist Poland, Ewa Partum returned in the 1990s and established the ARTUM Foundation in the building that now will be the museum.