The State Hermitage participates in events devoted to memorable dates:
the 150th anniversary of abolition of serfdom
and the 130th anniversary of death of emperor Alexander II

On 3 March 2011 a plenary session of the scientific and practical conference Great Reforms and Modernization of Russia, opened by President of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev, was held at the Mariinsky Theater. During the session Director of the State Hermitage M. Piotrovsky made a presentation Memory of Alexander II at the Winter Palace.

On 14-15 March 2011 the European University in St Petersburg and the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Science hold the International Conference Alexander II: Tragedy of the Reformer. People in the Destiny of Reforms, Reforms in the Destiny of People. This conference will be attended by Deputy Director of the State Hermitage G. Villinbakhov. His report will cover the reforms of the state symbols of Russia of 1855-1881.

On 14 March 2011 a concert Evening in Memory of Emperor Alexander II will be held at the Hermitage Theater. Visitors will be offered a new program of the Men’s Choir Valaam Wreath to the King-Winnermade with the participation of St Petersburg leading actors - Nikolai Ivanov, Mikhail Morozov, Mikhail Razumovsky, Dmitry Lagachev and Alexander Bolshakov.