2008.

On 8 June together with the Archaeological Department of the State Hermitage Museum, represented by Boris Korotkevich, volunteers visited Staraya Ladoga, where Adrian Selin, a great enthusiast and resilient protector of the Staraya Ladoga Museum Reserve, held an excellent excursion for the volunteers. The volunteers’ tour of Staraya Ladoga ended at the Wise Oleg’s Mound, delighting in the wonderful views of the Volkhov River and had shashliks on the river’s edge.

On 1 June there was a celebration for Sweets Day, dedicated to the Children’s Day, where volunteers helped to create a chocolate gryphon, which was to be entered in the Russian Record Book for the largest chocolate figure.

On 24 May 2008, the bell at Ropshinskaya School rang out for the 155th time! Volunteers arrived to congratulate leavers and the director of the school, Svetlana Raznoschikova, who conducted the graduation ceremony of her own class this year. Following the celebration they discussed plans for the future, and also a joint project for naming the school after Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

17 May 2008 a sand sculpture festival was held. Volunteers not only helped at the Ice Studio art centre to run the festival but also took part in the competition and received an honorary second place in the amateur competition.

April 2008 – Discussions to be held with American students. Exchanged of experiences in voluntary work and practical work in the museums of the Smithsonian Institute.

March 2008 – Participation in the organization of the exhibition Tomcat Day (27.03 – 28.03.)

February – March 2008 – Help in running the Chuck Close exhibition.

12 January 2008 – The Old New Year in Ropsha. An annual celebration of the memorable event – the gift of Ropsha Estate by Emperor Nicholas I to his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Awards ceremony to the winners of the New Years Tree Competition.

2007

3 December 2007 –  International Volunteers Day. Awards ceremony for the best volunteers. Presentation of projects by volunteers of the State Hermitage Museum. (The Hermitage Theatre and the Rastrelli Gallery). Opening of the Coordination Centre of the Volunteer Service.

30 November 2007 – Completion of repair work and the commissioning of the Volunteer Service section of the State Hermitage Museum.

October 2007 – Help in running the Advisory Board at the State Hermitage Museum.

September, October, November 2007 – Volunteer training held in The Rhythm of Swing at the Art Restoration and Storage Center in Staraya Derevnya.

7 June 2007 – Round table held on Potential Development of the Volunteer Service of the State Hermitage Museum at the Art Restoration and Storage Center in Staraya Derevnya.

June 2007 – Preparation and help in running a charity reception at the Winter Palace.

1 June 2007 – Children’s Day. Help in running the event.

13 May 2007 – Meeting delegations of volunteers from the Israeli Museum. Exchanges of volunteer experiences.

April 2007 – Participation and running of the State Hermitage Museum conference Preservation, Study and Restoration of Cultural Monuments.

 26 April 2007 – Running of the Youth Round Table as part of the Preservation, Study and Restoration of Cultural Monuments conference.

March 2007 – Participation of volunteers in the festival programme of Classical Days (14.03 – 16.03)

February 2007 – Relocation to part of the Development Department in the General Staff building.

January – February 2007 – Participation and preparation of the State Hermitage Museum exhibition in Kazan Half a Kingdom for a Horse. Translations of material into a foreign language

2006

5 December 2007 –  International Volunteers Day. Awards ceremony for the best volunteers. Presentation of projects by volunteers of the State Hermitage Museum. (The Hermitage Theatre and the Rastrelli Gallery). Opening of the Coordination Centre of the Volunteer Service.

September  2006 – January 2007 – Children’s Celebration of the New Year’s Tree Creativity Competition (State Hermitage Museum Protection Foundation at Staraya Derevnya).

29 May 2006 – Awards ceremony for winners of the regional stage of the Russian wide competition The Best Work of Letters (State Hermitage Museum Protection Foundation at Staraya Derevnya, Popov Museum of Communications)

7 April 2006 – Celebration and Open Work of Letters in Ropsha, in memory of the mediaeval Annunciation Church.

April – May 2006 –The regional stage of the Russian wide competition The Best Work of Letters held together with Russian Post.

March – end of 2006 – Project for animated films about the New Year’s Tree. A series of competitions were held for the best screenplay for an animated feature film.

1 March 2006 – closing of an exhibition and holding of final summary of Mail for the New Year’s Tree, and also the presentation of the programme of events for the Volunteer Service of the State Hermitage Museum for 2006. (State Hermitage Museum Protection Foundation at Staraya Derevnya).

13 January 2006 – Programme to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the gift of Ropsha Estate to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and the ceremony for the foundation of the Museum of New Year Trees (the Federal Selection-Genetic Centre for Fish Breeding ").

9 January 2006 – Awards ceremony for winners and participants of the competition, exhibition opening (State Hermitage Museum Protection Foundation at Staraya Derevnya).