The State Hermitage as Honorary Guest of the VII Salon Devoted to the Problems of Preserving Cultural Heritage (VII Salone dei beni e delle attivita culturali)

During 27 - 30 November 2003 the State Hermitage was an honorary guest of the VII Salon Devoted to Cultural Heritage and Activity in the Sphere of Cultural Development, which was held in Venice (VII Salone dei beni e delle attività culturali). With sponsorship support from Villagio Globale International, and also thanks to the personal efforts of Salon director Maurizio Cecconi, the Hermitage had its own stand, which was devoted to such subjects as IT, celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg, and also to joint Russian-Italian projects for the restoration of museum rooms and works of art.

The major theme of the VII Salon was how Information Technology can contribute to the preservation and popularization of mankind's cultural heritage. Director of the State Hermitage M. B. Piotrovsky took part in the ceremonial opening of the Salon and in the discussion dedicated to the 'Museum of the Future'. The screening of A. N. Sokurov's film Russian Ark was a special event of the VII Salon.

The State Hermitage presented its achievements over the past few years in the field of new technologies: the museum's websites and its online shops; the programs of the Educational Center, and also the program of its information kiosk called 'Your Personal Guide'.

Publishing is the traditional means of popularizing the museum and the Hermitage stand featured art albums, books and guidebooks.

The Hermitage and the Commune of Bassano del Grappa are linked by many years of partnership and joint projects. For example, in 2001 the State Hermitage, together with the City Museum of Bassano del Grappa and the Canova Foundation in Possagno (Italy) organized an exhibition of graphics and paintings by the great Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. In the same year Bassano del Grappa was host to the exhibition Paintings by Venetian Artists from the Collection of the Hermitage.

The Hermitage continues its active collaboration with Italian organizations and foundations, which makes it possible to present the collections of the Russian emperors in Italy.

One result of the cooperation between the municipality of Bassano and the State Hermitage is the first major retrospective show of Antonio Canova, which has been organized by the municipality and the City Museum of Bassano del Grappa, the municipality of Possagno, the Canova Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, and the Region of Veneto. The exhibition runs from November, 2003 to May 2004. It opens in the City Museum of Bassano del Grappa, then moves to Possagno, the city of the sculptor's birth, and ends in the magnificent cathedral which Canova designed and which now is his final resting place.