'Night at the Museum' on May 16th-17th

By Vestnik Kavkaza

'Night at the Museum' is an international action which was initiated in Russia in 2007 to extend the capacities of modern museums and attract young people. This year the action is to take place on the 16th and 17th of May. 62 federal museums and 2000 exhibitions will take part in the action. In the context of the federal activities, more than 250 cultural institutions will be organized in Moscow. Museums, galleries and masterclasses will be open for free late into the night. In addition, those interested can visit old manor houses, residences of the ambassadors of foreign countries and 14 other monuments which are usually unavailable for public access. 

Elena Milovzorova, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, says that all the users can plan their routes, know about the main events and make time for Night at the Museum. During the night all the users can watch online photos of the events and video reports and see how the action is taking place in Russia. 

Alexander Kibovsky, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow, says that the action will take place beyond the museums: “Many participants are going to use public spaces and hold concerts, festivals and master classes.The events will take place in all parts of Moscow. It is not necessary to go to the center, because everyone can find something interesting near their location. It is necessary to understand that the museums will work till midnight, and it takes you some time to come back home.”

Kibovsky recommends visiting one or two museums: “You’re better focusing on something important that is necessary and interesting for you. Often people start to run from one part of the city to another in order to visit and see everything, but at the end of the evening they have a complete mess in their heads. They confused Akhmatova with Akhmadullina and have eyes like an owl. You receive nothing but tiredness and mess in your head. In my opinion, you'd be better going to what you want to see.”

83 museums will participate in the event, including the architectural complex ‘Provision Shops,’ Lefortovo, the Borodino Battle Museum, the Museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia, the State Museum of Moscow’s Defense, the Museum of GULAG’s History, the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, the State Darwin Museum, Tsaritsyno Museum, Kolomenskoe Museum, Pushkin State Museum, Skryabin State Museum, Tsvetayeva Museum, Mayakovski State Museum, Alexander Solzhenitsyn House of Russians Abroad, Vysotski State Cultural Museum Center, the Manezh, New Manezh, Moscow Contemporary Art Museum, Naïve Art Museum, and others.