The Granary of Polish Rock in Jarocin: Between festival experience and museum representation

This article explores the Granary of Polish Rock in Jarocin as a cultural institution situated at the intersection of lived festival experience and contemporary museum representation. Tracing the history of the Jarocin Festival – one of the most significant youth music events in the Polish People’s Republic – the study examines how its rebellious, grassroots character has been preserved, reinterpreted, and institutionalised through the creation of a permanent exhibition space. The Granary is analysed not only as a museum of Polish rock, but also as a living memory site that actively contributes to the cultural identity of Jarocin. Through its architecture, exhibitions, public programming, and educational work, the institution bridges generational narratives, transforms nostalgia into critical reflection, and positions local memory within broader discourses on post-communist heritage. The article argues that the Granary offers a hybrid model of museological practice – one that challenges traditional boundaries between archive, experience, and identity.