The excavation revealed a major necropolis containing hundreds of burials of nuns and the presumed body of Mariia Magdalyna, as well as a host of objects of historical value dating back as early as the 1300s.

The construction of the current building was supervised by a military engineer by the name of Charles de Chardon, a native of Dohis, Aisne, Hauts-de-France, who was then living in Kyiv.

The Arsenal building was awarded architectural heritage monument status in 1979 and continued to be in use by the armed forces through the beginning of the 21st century.

In 2010 the entire complex was granted national monument status and conservation works are continuing while the facility remains open to the public.

[5] Facing the threat of loss or destruction of collections during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, museum director Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta stated that: "When the war started, we had our instructions for how to act in this situation.

Mystetskyi Arsenal serves as a mediator between professionals and the general public, explaining cultural and social phenomena, and their causes.

There is a Small Gallery on the territory of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, which presents young Ukrainian art, as well as the projects of leading domestic artists.

Mystetskyi Arsenal aims to reorient the typical visitor experience from passive perception of information to active involvement and interaction with the exhibitions, professionals.