In Moscow at the National Center for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) a meeting of a group of German professionals with representatives of museums of Moscow took place. A visit of German museum specialists was organized within the framework of the Russian-German bi-lateral training program, which represents a part of the Museum Bridges program of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation.

At the meeting the German specialists shared their best educational practices of museums they represent. Presentations were made by Dr Diana Dressel, head of Education department of the Jewish museum in Berlin, Dr Claudia Gemmeke, head of the department “Forum” of the City Museum of Berlin, Ms Julia Hagenberg, head of Education department of the Kunstsammlung Nordhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Ms Astrid Lembeke-Thiel, head of educational programs, Museum Wiesbaden. About Russian experience talked Ms Yulia Grachikova, head of educational department of the Museum of Moscow, Mr Vyacheslav Klimentov, deputy director of the science work department and Mr Dmitri Stalnoy, supervisor of museum pedagogics department, Museum of Cosmonautics, Ms Maria Tokareva, curator of educational programs, Museum of Russian impressionists, and Mr Antonio Geusa, head of educational programs department, National Center for Contemporary Arts.

At the meeting Ms Amulanga Uchurova, head of the department of national heritage of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, pointed out an importance of the Foundation’s role in the development of the museum sphere in Russia. “For many years the Vladimir Potanin Foundation supports and develops museum area in Russia. Most important is that the Foundation’s activities are centered around developing and promoting Russian museum as well as introducing it to the world museum community.” Wishing participants of the exchange training program a good productive work, the representative of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, stated that international activities are well supported by the government within the framework of the program “Culture of Russia 2012-2017.” Arts and culture projects are also supported by the government subsidies. Recently an important role in the development of museum work play projects, implemented jointly by charity foundations and non-government institutes and organizations.

Ms Oksana Oracheva, General director of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation thanked the National Center for Contemporary Arts for welcoming international participants of the exchange training program for the second time. “One of the priorities of museum strategy of the Foundation is the support of the museum professionals,” - emphasized Oksana Oracheva. “Exchange training programs is a significant component of such support. Due to such meetings, discussions, we all gain new ideas, contacts, opportunities that enable to improve our work. We are glad that we managed to introduce different formats of such collaboration. With the program “Museum Bridges” there are opportunities for exchange trainings abroad and for trainings in Russia. It is noteworthy that in order to implement German-Russian exchange training activities a number of co-organizers got together. Along with the Vladimir Potanin Foundation the exchange training is co-funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, one the oldest foundations in Germany. Great organizational and creative contribution was made by the Goethe Institute Berlin and the Pro-Arte Foundation St. Petersburg. We hope that as a result of such training we attain new contacts and professional relations with museums of Germany. That concerns not only research and exhibitions. We will also attempt to initiate and implement new European program of museum exchanges.

Bi-lateral exchange training program for museum professionals introduces participants with museums of countries they represent, with new educational approaches, with best practices in the area of museum technologies. During 2014 - 2016 exchange trainings have been taking place in the US, Germany, and France. The program is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. In particular, the French - Russian exchange training program is included to the cross year of cultural tourism between Russia and France in year 2016.