Gulbene History and Art Museum
The Gulbene History and Art Museum started its real operation on January 1, 1982. The origins of the museum in Gulbene can be traced back several years before this decision.
The Gulbene Local History Museum was granted temporary premises at 21 Līkā Street in Gulbene Secondary School No. 2 - 2 rooms for exposition and 1 room for storing funds. The museum operated in these premises until the spring of 1982, when after acquiring the status of the Gulbene History and Art Museum, the premises were moved to the premises at Rīgas Street 49.
By the decision of the Executive Committee of the Gulbene District Council of People's Deputies of August 19, 1977, the former manor barn at Brīvības Street 9 came under the control of the Gulbene Culture Department.
In 1993, the museum was warned about leaving the premises due to the denationalization of the building at 49 Rīgas Street. Premises in the former manor conservatory were planned for the use of the museum. It was not possible to move to the conservatory immediately, because the building needed serious repairs. In December 1994, the museum was allocated 2 rooms and an exhibition hall on the 3rd floor of the Gulbene Culture House - as a temporary solution. Repair work in the conservatory stopped several times due to lack of funds. At the end of 2001, the museum began moving to the new premises.
Since 2002, the museum has been working on 2 buildings - the manor's conservatory, where the collection is located, exhibition halls and work rooms, as well as a barn with an open collection storage. In 2002, the museum successfully completed the accreditation process.
The first director of the museum, Pēteris Lieps, who was both the head of the branch and the first director of the museum, has a great merit in establishing the museum. From 1985 to 1989, the director of the museum was Pauls Lasmanis.
The collection of the museum is formed by focusing on the history of the city and district of Gulbene from the earliest times to the present day. In 2000, the museum's collection exceeded 50,000 items. The most valuable collections of the GVMM collection are glass photonegatives (> 14,000 items), photo postcards, postcards, ethnography, dishes, documents. The collection is used in exhibitions, events, research.
The research interest of the museum staff has always been related to the history of the county. This is evidenced by both research exhibitions and publications.
From the very beginning of the museum's operation, cooperation with Gulbene TLMS "Sagša" began. Since the second half of the 1990s, history and art exhibitions in the Gulbene District Council building have been traditional.
In 1984-1991, complex expeditions were significant - to Tirza, Druviena, Lizums, Ranka, Gulbene, as a result of which a large addition to the collection was obtained and the history of these parishes was identified. Since the museum's inception, much attention has been paid to working with the public, especially school youth. The staff of the museum leads excursions and thematic cycles of excursions around Gulbene and the district, gives lectures and lecture cycles, conducts classes and methodically helps teachers of the district's history. The museum pedagogical program "Yard" has been operating since 1996, and since 2000 - "Barn".
The museum is located in the conservatory of Vecgulbene manor, where exhibitions of its collection and art also take place. Ethnographic objects are stored in the barn of Vecgulbene manor. They are visible, can be used for lectures and research work. The museum collects, compiles and stores materials and information about the history of Gulbene city and region. Special mention should be made of the 20th century. Collection of glass negatives for photographers of the 1st half, as well as collections of documents, postcards, dishes, textiles, etc. The museum's collection is used in exhibitions, events and research.
The museum offers excursions around Gulbene city and district, cooperates with schools (hiking, orienteering, research).
Since 1993, GVMM has been a collective member of the Latvian Museums Association.
The list of information sources can be found here .