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2010 Annual Report of the State Hermitage Museum In the fall of 2011, the State Hermitage Museum delivered its annual report for 2010 (published by the State Hermitage Museum Publishing House). This report opens with an article by M.B. Piotrovsky entitled The Year of Two Staircases. This year, the Hermitage can take pride in two symbolic events; the restoration of the Jordan staircase and installation of the yet nameless grand staircase in the East Wing of the General Staff Building. The first is a symbol of the preservation and transformation of tradition. The second is a new construction in the former yard. It transforms that palace bringing it into harmony with the great enfilades of the Hermitage. The work on the two staircases demanded a great deal of effort, knowledge and skill characteristic of the new age: project partners were selected in competition, state-of-the-art energy-saving illumination systems were installed, and international partner organizations were invited to join the project. All of this is symbolic for the Hermitage, which is beginning preparations for its 250-year anniversary, which it hopes to mark by becoming an innovative, model museum for the 21st century. The Hermitage’s holiday will be a global one, like all of its operations. The program will include ten exhibitions in Russia, the most remarkable of those, from the Saratov Art Museum. Most importantly, a new Hermitage Center, Hermitage - Vyborg, was opened. It is an equal of Hermitage - Kazan (an exhibit of French art) and Hermitage - Amsterdam (Alexander the Great). Hermitage - Italy distinguished itself this year with new catalogues and several scientific conferences. Also, an expedition from the Hermitage was operating in Italy for the first time. It was added to the previous twenty. Taken together, they constitute the museum’s unique scientific potential, which is also expressed in dozens of books and striking restoration projects. The restoration of the bugle beads of the Bugle Bead Room in Oranienbaum and the laser cleaning of the silver from the treasure of the factory owner Likhacheva are achievements that verge on the miraculous. The Hermitage science has once again distinguished itself with a new presentation of its achievements; a permanent exhibition on Ancient Central Asia and the great Pazyryk Kurgans, with the most ancient rug in the world and the most ancient tattoos. An exhibit of ancient Korean art, with masterpieces never before seen on the banks of the Neva can truly be considered a revelation, and a huge Picasso exhibit in the grand halls of the Winter Palace turned into a real celebration. An answer was sent to Paris this year from those same halls in the form of an impressive exhibition dedicated to the Russian Imperial Guard. The summer reception at the Hermitage was dedicated to contemporary art, and it combined works by Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Zurab Tsereteli (Sobchak’s portrait) and startling works by young artists. The Hermitage is continuing to experiment with the 21st century and astonishing its guests (pleasing some and provoking others) with the Centre Pompidou festival. This year, the Board of Trustees of the Hermitage made a decision about the creation of a special-purpose capital fund, or endowment. We have grown to the point when this modern instrument for financing culture and science has become suitable. Another innovation, the so-called "chain" of council meetings that conduct preliminary evaluations of all projects, from the design of exhibits to allocation of grants. This year, we had a great deal to do in the entrance zone of the museum, where a special system was introduced. A lot of people come to the museum and they often have to stand in lines. The Hermitage has already been conducting its social program for many years now. The museum uses its own resources to provide discounts for those for whom visiting the museum is difficult, but, in our opinion, necessary. The museum is free for children and students of any nationality, and for Russian pensioners. Once a month, the museum is free of charge for everyone. About half of our visitors come for free. As a rule, Russian citizens are not rich. As such, a reduced price has been instituted for them. It is lower than the basic price, which is in line with global standards. This difference is price has provoked greedy enthusiasm among speculators, many of whom can be found milling around the Hermitage. They acquire free and discounted tickets, and then sell them in the line for astronomical prices. Our visitors are justifiably concerned about this. As such, we have a strict system for granting discounted tickets, which requires identification confirming the visitor’s age, nationality and status as a student or pensioner. This also produces protests, but in this case, I suspect that they are from those who have an interest in reselling tickets. Alas, not even the Palace Square and the Palace Courtyard can fully ennoble people. Certain people. In reality, the vast majority of our visitors are well-meaning people with highly developed artistic tastes. We are glad that our numerous special programs, musical festivals, special exhibits and events resonate with them. After all, it is for them, and for the items that we lovingly protect, that the museum exists. |
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Copyright
© 2011 State Hermitage Museum |
