Career lab and restoration workshops: Days of Russian Museum in Minsk

“We have never held such events with such grandeur, in such a format and on such a scale in any foreign country or region of Russia. This is truly a first-time experience, and we have been preparing for it. That's why we’ve brought a team of over 30 leading specialists and managers from the Russian Museum, experts in science, collections, restoration, exhibition projects, and cultural and educational work,” Alla Manilova said.

According to her, the Russian Museum will present the programs in two areas. The first, a public one, is intended for all visitors to the museum, including families and young people, so that they can meet with specialists, listen to lectures, see the exhibition, and learn many things for themselves. The second one is meant for specialists and museum professionals of Belarus.

“As for young people, we are launching a career lab where students can try their hand in all the main museum professions. We have brought many specialists including research scientists, restorers, methodologists, specialists in multimedia and digital technologies, and press service staff to help young people who want to immerse themselves in a profession with this assistance. We will be delighted if this helps the young people either choose this profession or acquire entirely new competencies,” she said.

The program also features restoration seminars for professionals. According to Alla Manilova, the Russian Museum is one of the leaders in Europe in the field of restoration, primarily of paintings. The restoration school of the Russian Museum is over 100 years old, and the museum takes particular pride in the extra-class skill of its restorers.

“Our restoration school, which is very important for our Belarusian partners, relies on a strong scientific foundation. We work with the famous Kurchatov Institute, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other major science and technology centers of the Russian Federation to rapidly adapt scientific developments to restoration practice, so that scientific discoveries are turned into technologies not after years or decades, but today,” she noted.

Also, the Russian museum will present Russia’s only mobile laboratory which serves as the foundation and first step for any major scientific restoration, ensuring the scientific value and flawlessness of the work, as restorers handle canvases of incredible value, both historical and artistic.

"The laboratory can also be seen as an ambulance, as an opportunity to quickly help with the restoration that we can fly over and do everything on site. I think your restorers will find it interesting. I know that 20 leading restorers from the National Art Museum will be undergoing this course here, and a group of restorers from Belarus interned at the Russian Museum last year. We invited our colleagues on a partnership basis, and now we have brought the laboratory here,” Alla Manilova added.

She emphasized that she would ask for the laboratory to be shown to regular visitors as well, because people are always interested when specialists work on an icon or an ancient painting, as they can see all the layers that the painting has accumulated over decades or centuries.

“This is incredible. People have never seen anything like this before. The Days of the Russian Museum are a great opportunity to gain new insights into the cultural heritage and unity of our nations and to appreciate how swiftly we are progressing toward each other,” Alla Manilova noted.