The Hermitage-Vyborg Center

The Hermitage-Vyborg Exhibition Center is
one year old

In June, 2010 the Hermitage-Vyborg Center was opened. The project was initiated in November, 2007 upon signing the Agreement for cooperation between the State Hermitage, the Government of the Leningrad region and the Vyborg District Municipality of the Leningrad region.

The Center is located on Panzerlax bastion in a building built in 1930 according to the project of Vyborg's leading architect Uno Verner Ulberg (1879-1944). The building executed in the functionalism style was specially made for the Art Museum and the Art School.

The official opening of a new cultural center in Vyborg was held on October 12, 1930. Over ten years the museum compiled a huge collection of Finnish and European art. It also included the works of Russian masters. By late 30s the Vyborg Museum became the second most significant art museum of Finland, next to Ateneum (Helsinki).

Upon the defeat in the winter war of 1939-1940 Finland lost part of its territory and the second largest city Vyborg. Finnish people were evacuated, the museum's exhibits removed and distributed among Finland's museums. In 1941 the building's museum wing was badly damaged during a fire.

In the Soviet period in the Vyborg history the building of former Art Museum and Art School was used by various institutions. Sine 2003 the Children's School of Art was placed in its left wing while the right wing remained empty and destroyed. The decision on founding the Hermitage-Vyborg Center there marked the start of reviving the Vyborg's renowned architecture sample and resuming its initial museum role.

The restoration and reconstruction project anticipated the preservation of the historical view of Uno Ulberg's creation, the repair and up-to-date technical equipping the future museum. Old photographs were found in Finland's archives, paint samples of 30s-40s were obtained from the facade, which allowed the restorers to recreate the original look of the building with the maximum precision. Upon completion of the right wing's restoration and its redesigning as a modern museum center, it now has all the facilities for arranging exhibitions from the State Hermitage and performing educational and public awareness campaigns.

The Hermitage-Vyborg Center starts its activities with a grand-scale exhibition Catherine the Great. The Hermitage will expose to Vyborg's citizens and guests about 200 exhibits relating to the age of the reign of the Empress Catherine the 2nd, including artifacts of painting, graphics, applied art and numismatics samples. A small display is dedicated to the 300-year anniversary of Vyborg's seizure by Peter the 1st in June, 1710. Further it is planned to arrange 2-3 exhibitions a year in the Center.

Public awareness campaign is another important kind of cultural cooperation between the Hermitage and Vyborg. Lectures of the State Hermitage were initiated in Vyborg in 2007 in the premises of the Children's School of Art. The Hermitage's art historians delivered lectures on the history of world art to adults and students. Upon the opening of the Hermitage-Vyborg Center its visitors, both adults and children, will be able to take part in exhibitions, lectures, educational programs prepared by the specialists of the State Hermitage. An educational center equipped with modern projection equipment and touch-screen computers is available for them.

Window view of the yard Larger view

View from Panzerlax bastion Larger view

The Hermitage-Vyborg Center
Architect Uno Ulberg, 1930
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The Hermitage-Vyborg Center
2010
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Panzerlax bastion
(1579-1580)
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View of the Gulf of Finland
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Entrance to the yard
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Facade facing the gulf
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Exhibition Hall
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The interior
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