Decree “On the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage”
On 24 February 2011, Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, signed a decree “On the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage”.
Order of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the confirmation of the plan of the main activities for the preparation and conduct of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage”
On 10 November 2011 Vladimir Putin, the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, signed the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the confirmation of the plan of the main activities for the preparation and conduct of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage”.
The first meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and conduct of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage
On 21 September 2011 the first meeting was held in the State Hermitage of the organizing committee for the preparation and conduct of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Foundation of the State Hermitage. The committee approved the plan of the main events.
Extension of the Hermitage’s opening hours on Wednesdays
From 3 October 2012 the State Hermitage is extending the opening hours of the permanent display and temporary exhibitions in the main complex of the museum without changes to the price of entrance tickets on Wednesdays until 9 pm.
The creation of the “Hermitage Line” Internet resource
The “Hermitage Line” Internet resource was created in March 2013 on the initiative of the State Hermitage and the Tatfondbank. The site was conceived as a forum for the discussion of the activities and problems of museums in Russia and abroad. Its pages carry material about exhibitions and exhibits, archaeological expeditions and restoration projects, creative people and interesting books. There are analytical articles aimed at experts and light informative essays for lovers of the fine arts.
The Opening of the Exhibition “A Visit to Houghton. Walpole Masterpieces from the Hermitage”
The exhibition “A Visit to Houghton. Walpole Masterpieces from the Hermitage” took place from 17 May to 29 September 2013 at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. The display included over 40 paintings from the Hermitage collection. The acquisition in 1779 of Walpole’s picture collection, which contemporaries called “the most celebrated in England”, was a very important event in the history of the Hermitage – the imperial art gallery was considerably enriched by outstanding works of 17th-century European masters. The exhibition was held to mark the 250th anniversary of the Hermitage.
The plan for the third phase of the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Centre is approved
On 12 July 2013 the Planning Board attached to the government of St Petersburg approved the plan for the third phase of the construction of the Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Centre. The design was the work of the outstanding Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. As well as premises for the storage of the collections and laboratories of the Department for Scientific Restoration and Conservation halls will be created for the Hermitage research library, which will become accessible to visitors.
Prosecco DOC becomes an official wine of the State Hermitage
On 6 December 2013 an agreement was signed on scholarly and cultural collaboration between the Hermitage and the Consortium for the Protection of the Designation Prosecco DOC. According to this document the sparkling wine Prosecco DOC became one of the official wines of the museum. It was served at the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Hermitage. Besides that, the participants in the project devised an extensive cultural programme with new exhibitions, new books and scholarly researches.
The Decision on the Transfer of the Exchange to the Hermitage
In December 2013 the Governor of St Petersburg took the decision to transfer the building of the Exchange to the State Hermitage for the creation of a Museum of Heraldry and Awards.
