The volunteer service of the National Museum in Warsaw (MNW) invites everyone to ‘The Great Botanical Tale’ – an event exploring botanical motifs in art. On Saturday 10 October, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., together with volunteers and experts from the Greenery Board of the Capital City of Warsaw, we will take a closer look at selected works from the MNW’s collection that present a wealth of botanical motifs.
The event was held under the official patronage of the Director of the National Institute of Freedom – Centre for the Development of Civil Society (NIW-CRSO) as part of the celebrations for the International Year of Volunteers 2026.

‘The Great Botanical Story’ is an original programme run by volunteers at the National Museum in Warsaw since 2024. The project focuses on works of art from the MNW’s collection depicting motifs inspired by flora and fauna.
The main aim of our project is to show that works of art can be not only the subject of aesthetic contemplation, but also a starting point for a conversation about the world in which we live – about the relationship between the human being and nature, the importance of plants and biodiversity and our day-to-day responsibility for the world around us. The project creates a space for bringing together artistic, historical and natural perspectives and encourages recipients to take a close look at the presence of nature in culture and at their own relationship with the environment.
At the heart of the project lies an active role played by volunteers, who not only support the organisation of the event, but are also its co-creators and hosts. They choose the works by themselves, prepare the content and method of their presentations and engage in direct dialogue with the audience. As a result, the project enables volunteers to draw on and develop their individual interests and knowledge, while also giving them a genuine opportunity to co-create the programme of a cultural institution.
Volunteering in this sense develops social, communication, organisational and educational skills, in particular the ability to speak in public, work with recipients and to pass on their knowledge in an accessible and engaging manner. At the same time, the project strengthens the relationship between the Museum and its audience, showing that a cultural institution can be a place not only for experiencing art, but also for open dialogue, an exchange of knowledge and a joint search for meanings.

Photo by: Agata Steifer, a volunteer at the National Museum in Warsaw