Record Breaking Turnout at the International Exhibition of Calligraphy in Veliky Novgorod

Alina Mirova, Tatar-Inform, Pskov

The world’s first global travelling exhibition of an ICOM member was held with astounding success.

The 3rd International Exhibition of Calligraphy, the world’s largest project dedicated to the art of beautiful handwriting successfully completed in Veliky Novgorod. The exposition was available from September 10-12 in a mobile pavilion erected in the historic city centre near the Kremlin walls in Yaroslav's Court. A unique feature of the project is that the event was organized by the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy; thus, a global traveling exhibition of an ICOM member took place.

As was reported by the local authoritiesэ press-center, more than thirty seven thousand people visited the exhibition within the three days, which is an absolute record for the International Exhibition of Calligraphy. In 2008, the International Exhibition of Calligraphy in St. Petersburg was attended by seventeen thousand people and in 2009 in Moscow, by more than thirty thousand people.

Nineteen trucks with exhibition equipment and exhibits were sent to Veliky Novgorod from Moscow. One hundred and thirty-seven tons of cargo was delivered to the city in total. The ninety-one-man strong team of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy and the MVK International Exhibition Company came from Moscow. About two thousand square meters were allotted for the exhibition with one thousand four hundred of these for the exposition, one hundred: for the presentation pavilion and ticket offices, five hundred: for a fast-food tent.

Forty-six master classes were held during the four days of the Fixed Event Period (including the day of the presentation on September 9th). Thirty-five renowned calligraphers participated in the project in total. Novgorod saw more than three hundred exhibits including those listed in the Guinness World Records.

A wakeboarding tournament for WakeWorld Russia Cup took place in the framework of the exhibition featuring best professional riders from Russia, Europe and Asia. The Museum Night project also took place for the first time during the International Exhibition of Calligraphy supported by the Novgorod State Museum-Reserve.

The 3rd International Exhibition of Calligraphy was the last project of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy in Russia. Then the project goes on a world tour. The exhibition will be presented in Paris in 2011. The project’s mission is to build a beautiful and healthy society and the goal is to keep the unique art of calligraphy alive for future generations.

Source: Tatar-Inform, a news agency (Tatar-inform.ru)

Back to list