Days of Russian Museum in Minsk: Exchange of experience and unique restoration expertise 

According to Director General of the State Russian Museum Alla Manilova, there are two programs for museum: one for regular visitors and one for museum professionals.

Of particular interest are professional restoration seminars. The Russian Museum is one of Europe’s leaders in the field of restoration. The Russian restoration school has a strong scientific base, which helps to quickly adapt scientific developments to restoration practice and turn scientific discoveries into technologies.

“We are very interested in restoration because we need restorers as much as air to breathe. A huge number of works of art and paintings, various publications, historical and cultural heritage in general, from engravings to vast castle complexes, require restoration. For this, we need highly qualified specialists. Our children and grandchildren should see how Belarus has developed and where it came from. Everything our ancestors left us must be carefully preserved by diligent skillful specialists who need to be trained for this,” Belarusian Culture Minister Ruslan Chernetsky emphasized.

He thanked the Russian Museum, which has excellent traditions in restoration, for the assistance in training of Belarusian specialists.

“The head of state takes a keen interest in restoration matters. The Transfiguration Church in Polotsk was reopened in 2024. During the restoration specialists discovered the frescoes dating back to the 12th century hidden beneath the layers of 17th-18th century wall painting. Our restorers developed a method to remove the 17th-18th century frescoes and preserve them and revealed the frescoes made on the instructions of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The 16th century iconostasis in the Zhirovichi monastery is currently under restoration,” Ruslan Chernetsky explained.