On 18 May 2004 on International Museum Day, the Hermitage Theater was the venue for the traditional festive assembly held in honor of museum veterans.

Deputy Director of the State Hermitage for Exhibitions and Development V. Yu. Matveev delivered words of greeting to the audience.

A.I. Kuzmin, Director of the A.V. Suvorov State Memorial Museum, spoke at the plenary session of the Union of Creative Museum Staff of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region; he congratulated and presented awards to veterans of museum service who have devoted 30, 40, 45, 50 and 55 years of their life to this work.

V.A. Vorotnikov, first deputy chairman of the Committee on Culture within the St Petersburg Administration, also delivered words of congratulations and read a message of greetings from Governor of St Petersburg V.I. Matvienko.

Introductory words of greeting from the Deputy Director of the State Hermitage Vladimir Matveev

Presentation of awards to the veterans

At the assembly in the Hermitage Theater