Exhibition project “The Private Museums of Russia. The Talents of Russia” presented in the Museum Department of the Russian Ministry of Culture

On July 18, 2019, the Museum Department of the Russian Federation Ministry of Culture held a meeting regarding the first exhibition project named “The Private Museums of Russia. The Talents of Russia,” which is due on September 7-8,2019, in Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event is organized by the Association of Private Museums of Russia, the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy, and Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The meeting included Vladisalv Kononov, Director of the Museum Department of the Russian Federation Ministry of Culture, Dmitry Shelepin, the Head of the Museum Department, and Alexandra Konovchenko, the Head of the Research Department. Alexey Shaburov, Director of the Association of Private Museums of Russia, represented the delegation of the same.

During the discussion Shaburov spoke about the Association, about the large-scale exhibition project, and its unique opportunities. This is a social project, intended free of charge for both participants and visitors. For the first time ever in the history of Russia, over 100 owners of private museums from the Russian Federation will be featured in one exhibition space, thus demonstrating the vast variety of private museum collections from history, art, science and culture realms. Alexey Shaburov also demonstrated the exhibition catalogue, and an electronic catalogue of the Association of the Private Museums of Russia. Currently the edition features over 400 Russian museums, with more than 700 due to be included. Shaburov also gave an overview of the museums that are expected to join the project and demonstrated a short footage about the motorcycle museum in Kovrov as a draft for the future documentary series “The Private Museums of Russia”, which will be presented at the exhibition.

He also spoke about the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy that he owns, and the projects completed recently or scheduled for the near term.

A special attention was given to the forthcoming international exhibition “The Great Chinese Calligraphy and Painting”, which is designed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between China and Russia. The event is scheduled for September 20-22, 2019.

Vladislav Kononov thanked the Association of the Private Museums of Russia represented by Alexey Shaburov, and emphasized the importance of the data on private museums in Russia, collected by his team: “Your efforts to collect this information will contribute to our common goal, which is to preserve the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of Russia.” He also spoke about some cultural accomplishments associated with the partnership between state and private entities.

Summarizing, Kononov noted that this exhibition will promote the museums to be featured. Private museums will get an opportunity to exchange experience and strengthen mutual relations, as well as the relations with state museums, and authorities, and will also get feedback regarding many points of interest concerning the legal aspect of operational private museums. The Ministry of Culture in the Russian Federation is ready for constructive interaction and collaboration.

Alexey Shaburov, Director of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy, and Vladislav Kononov, Director of the Museum Department at the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation