16.01.2014

We won't let to destroy the Non-Governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich

On the 14th of January, the International Centre of Roerichs (ICR) held a news conference for Russian and foreign journalists under the title "The Year of Culture in Russia: does Russia need the Non-governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich?" A couple of dozens of print and on-line mass media representatives were accredited.

The year of 2014 has been declared as the Year of Culture in Russia by the Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. However, in our days the interests of culture don't always coincide with the interests of the government and business. An example of this is the fate of the Non-governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich, which became a victim of the Central Bank policy. The Central Bank revoked the license of Master Bank, whose Chairman Boris Bulochnik was the Maecenas of this museum for the last 20 years.

Mr Alexander Stetsenko, the First Deputy Director General of the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich, described a tough situation in which the Museum has found itself and its attempts to overcome it. Donations collected recently helped to keep the museum's doors open, but government’s help is needed to continue exhibition, public, international, publishing and cultural activities of the ICR.

Replying journalists' questions, Mr. Stetsenko stressed that the Museum pictures would not be sold out under any circumstances and the non-governmental status of the Museum would be kept, since it was the will of Dr Svetoslav Roerich. Mrs Elena Kalmykova, the Director of the Museum of Entrepreneurs, Maecenas and Sponsors, added that the situation with the Non-governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich was not unique. All cultural entities having the non-governmental status need to struggle for survival. Charity and sponsorship are needed to keep our achievements today, otherwise tomorrow we won't have culture at all.

Mrs Tatiana Makeeva, the Director of the Museum House of Matvey Muraviev-Apostol expressed her admiration for restoration of the Loupuchins Estate and creation of the unique museum. She suggested that the Government must help the museum allowing it to have lease on easy terms.

One more aspect was touched at the news conference. It is the issue about the role and place of culture in our society. In particular, Mr Alexander Losyukov, the President of the International Roerichs' Heritage Preservation Committee, said "We need to make Culture our national idea. If at present we forget the past, we won't have any future ". The Year of Culture is a good initiative of the Russian Federation government. However, real steps towards public cultural initiatives are needed. The public is awaiting real help to the non-governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich from the Governments of Russian Federation and Moscow city.