Комунальна установа «Маріупольський краєзнавчий музей» – це об’єднання всіх муніципальних музейних установ Маріуполя, яке консолідує й репрезентує історію вільного українського міста.
Сьогодні Музей працює в евакуації. Але ми продовжуємо свою справу.
Наша місія – розповідати правдиву історію Маріуполя, утверджувати культурну ідентичність містян, ставати символом незламності, об’єднання в часи руйнування та формувати нові сенси, зберігаючи минуле та працюючи задля майбутнього.
The museum emerges as a multilayered exhibition of the city’s life: from ancient times to the present, from tragedy to triumph. Through exhibitions, artistic narratives, and personal testimonies, it invites visitors not only to encounter history but also to reflect on their own role in carrying it forward.
It is a space for cultural reflection, where memory becomes a foundation for rethinking justice, resilience, and hope.
Ключові завдання музею
PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
The museum is envisioned as a pillar of Mariupol’s cultural continuity — a city where every street and every artifact carries layers of meaning.
Key priorities:
• Professional documentation of historical testimonies, artifacts, and works of art that reflect the city’s multifaceted history and cultural identity in the context of war and occupation.
• Pursuing justice through initiatives aimed at recovering cultural assets that have been stolen or removed and belong to the city and its community.
• Building a knowledge and resource base essential for the future restoration of destroyed cultural heritage sites.
TESTIMONY OF TRUTH
The museum serves as an important platform for documenting the truth about the events experienced by Mariupol and as a means of countering historical falsification.
• Documenting war crimes and crimes against cultural heritage committed in the occupied territory.
• Countering Russian propaganda and disinformation by sharing verified facts, personal testimonies, and historical materials.
PRESERVATION OF MEMORY AND MEMORIALIZATION
Memory of the victims, the heroic resistance, and the loss is not a burden, but a source of strength and self-awareness. The museum serves as a custodian of this memory through:
• Honoring the living — the heroes, residents, and the city itself.
• Commemorating those who were killed or affected during the fighting and occupation.
• Fostering historical awareness, dignity, and patriotism, with a particular focus on educating and engaging young people.
FOSTERING NATIONAL UNITY
The museum serves not only as a cultural institution but also as a humanitarian bridge between people separated by war. This mission is pursued through:
• Strengthening connections between those who were forced to leave the city and those who remained, through shared work with memory and history.
• Creating an inclusive space for dialogue, mutual support, and solidarity that brings together the dispersed parts of the Mariupol community and fosters a shared commitment to liberation and recovery.
Mariupol Museum team – preserving and creating history together
The Museum team has become the backbone that sustains its mission and advances it in partnership with cultural institutions and creative organizations. Despite the small number of staff, we make every effort each day to ensure that the Museum’s work enables meaningful and relevant projects dedicated to our hometown.
Maria Slota
Director of the Mariupol Local History Museum
Head of the Department of the “Agency for Cultural Initiatives and City Promotion” within the municipal commercial enterprise of the Mariupol City Council, “m.EHAB.”
Through extensive work on projects focused on the development of culture and tourism, as well as supporting and implementing museum activities in the city, she has gained the expertise and experience needed to effectively guide the Mariupol Museum in preserving community identity, understanding the past, and shaping the future.
For me, the museum is the voice of the community — a way to preserve and engrave memory, but also a space for creating new history. Its purpose is to be contemporary, open, and accessible, so that everyone can feel part of this story and add their own voice to it.
Natalia Aruslanova
Head of the Museum of Folk Life Branch
Trained as a teacher and psychologist, she has worked in the museum sector since 2008. She began her career at the Mariupol Local History Museum in the Research and Education Department. Since July 2019, she has headed the ethnographic branch, the Museum of Folk Life. She actively incorporates creative approaches and interactive methods into guided tours and develops and implements virtual exhibitions and video lectures.
For me, the museum is a world of continuous exploration and discovery of new chapters of history and culture. It is a unique space where even an old woven blanket can become an eloquent masterpiece of the past.
Olha Khronenko
Researcher at the Mariupol Local History Museum
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Studies at Mariupol State University, lecturer, tour guide, and civic activist. Before the full-scale invasion, she worked as a television presenter and literary editor at Mariupol Television. She is the author of 167 academic and journalistic publications. Since 2023, she has been a researcher at the Mariupol Local History Museum.
For me, the museum is a place where the past inspires the future, and I serve as a bridge between the two. Working here is incredibly fascinating because every day I discover the world anew.