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Suspension of Work of Private Museums May Result in Closures

More than 80 private museums are located in Moscow, but the suspension of work due to the pandemic may lead to their closure, since they are not entitled to monetary compensation from the state. Museum owners sent a letter to the authorities asking them to pay attention to this area, Alexei Shaburov, director of the World Calligraphy Museum and the Association of Private Museums, told RIA Novosti.

“According to the orders, museums under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Department of Culture and the Russian Ministry of Culture are closed for visiting. They say nothing about private museums. At the moment there are over 80 private museums in Moscow. Most of them have rather little space. Largely for this reason, during the period of restrictive measures, their attendance fell by 50%. Suspension of activities will result in their complete destruction. Now many private museums are under threat of closure. We are writing letters to the Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalya Sergunina and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin with a request to pay attention to this process,” Shaburov said.

The interlocutor of the agency recalled that monetary compensation from the state is not allowed for private museums.

“As an association, we strive to legalize the institution of private museums, and we are working together with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in this direction. Thanks to our joint efforts, a register of private museums has been formed, which could allow private museums to count on financial support. But it has not yet been released, it will take some more time,” Shaburov added.

According to him, today in Moscow there is no joint register of private museums, which is necessary in this situation. “There is a general register, but Moscow needs its own. We are now taking all measures to ensure that the Moscow Department of Culture, in cooperation with the Association, will create this register, which is so important for the capital, “the agency’s interlocutor concluded.

Earlier on, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation announced the creation of a register of private museums, the development program of which was developed until 2023. It is planned to integrate private institutions into a single museum space of the country and include them, along with federal, regional and departmental museums, in state programs implemented by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Due to the measures on COVID-19 in Moscow from November 13 to January 15, 2021, it is only possible to visit exhibitions, lectures, workshops and other cultural and educational events in museums, exhibition halls and libraries of the capital online. You can visit concerts, performances and film screenings in theaters, cinemas and concert halls using masks and gloves, while the attendance of the halls should be no more than 25% of the total capacity of the premises. Federal museums in Moscow also close their work for visitors until January 15 by order of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Source: RIA Novosti