The State Hermitage - Samsung Electronics: High Technologies in the Service of High Art

On 6 April 2006, a press conference was held in the Conference Hall of the Academic Council which was organized by the State Hermitage and an Official Partner of the museum, Samsung Electronics. At the joint conference, an announcement was made regarding the opening of multimedia complexes in the exhibition rooms of the museum. The charitable program supporting this treasure house of Russian culture reflects Samsung's corporate philosophy, in which a very important element is active participation in the development of society and the social as well as cultural life of Russia.

"Our cooperation with Samsung is a splendid example of how the common efforts of business and people in the arts can serve a single objective - the development of Russian culture," remarked Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky.

"We are proud of our partnership with this famous museum," said President of the Headquarters of Samsung Electronics for the CIS countries and the Baltic states Mr Cho Von Kuk. "I am certain that our company's equipment will make visits to the Hermitage even more interesting and informative and will also open up new possibilities for studies and education in the sphere of culture and art."

The partnership between Samsung and the State Hermitage began in 1997, when a grant was made for a program to equip the Main Vestibule of the Winter Palace. Then came delivery of the Company's latest, state-of-the-art multimedia infromation complex for the Main Vestibule and the Hermitage Press Center, as well as equipment for a lecture hall and the School Center. A program of providing equipment in support of the museum's educational activities was implemented. One further milestone in the cooperation was the creation of an informational complex in the Main Entrance of the State Hermitage which was opened in 2003 in time for the celebrations surrounding the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg. The heart of the complex is four plasma panels from Samsung Electronics which display general information for museum visitors in Russian and English. The company also created a special multimedia complex which makes it possible quickly to update text and visual information for museum visitors.

History of the Cooperation

1997 - 1998 - Grant for a program to create an entrance zone in the Main Vestibule of the Winter Palace

1999 - Grant to create a multimedia information unit in the entrance zone of the Main Vestibule

2000 - 2001 - Grant to equip a lecture hall in the General Staff building

2001 - 2002 - Grant for a program of technical support to the museum's educational and public lecture activities:

• A lecture hall for the School Center
• A lecture hall for the Public Education Department
• Equipment for the Youth Educational Center in the General Staff building
• Equipment for the Hermitage's Press Center
• Information panels in the Main Entrance

2003 - 2004 - Grant for new information panels in the Main Entrance and for a

system to remotely access and update information

Grant for equipment in the Conference Hall

2005 - Grant for movable multimedia complexes to accompany the Hermitage's temporary exhibitions.

At the press-conference

Li Jae Hong, Head of the Representation of Samsung Electronics in St Petersburg

Svetlana Zorova, Marketing Manager in the Representation of Samsung Electronics in St Petersburg

Yelena Zemyatova, Manager for Sponsoring and Corporate PR of Samsung Electronics in St Petersburg