State Historical museumSpatial evolution Reflections and Observations

Anna MikhaylovaPhD candidate

University of Leicester

Research goals

• Theorize spatial transformations which took place at the SHM between the 1870s and the 1990s

• Bring Russian museum practices into international museological discourse

Facility Management

To support museum’s mission by:

• Keeping operations running smoothly

• Keeping collections and visitors safe

• Accommodating future needs

The Care and Keeping of Cultural Facilities: A Best Practice Guidebook for Museum Facility Management, 2014

Historical thinking+

Creative thinking

State Historical Museum (SHM)Red Square, Moscow

State Historical museum

(SHM)

SHM: collections

• Spatial history of the SHM

• the Entrance zone

• Lessons learned

1872 Polytechnic exhibition

Museological context

• No special governmental body to run and fund museums

• Private sector (merchants, nobility) established museums or donated their collections to cities

• By the end of the 19th century ~ 150 museums

Museum committee

• People with military background

• Historians

• Archaeologists

• Architects and artists

• Members of city council

Royal Family support

Urban context: the Red Square

• public space: – market

– religious ceremonies

– traditional fests

• political space: a part of the coronation ceremony

The Russian style

The Role of an architect

Vladimir Sherwood

The Polytechnic museum

SHM mission

To present Russian history in the most engaging way possible in order to help raise self-awareness of the Russian identity.

SHM spatial history

•Before the Revolution of 1917

•1st renovation: 1936-1938

•2nd renovation: 1987-1997

Renovation: 1987 - 1997

Re-opened in 1997

Entrance zone: “Paradnue seni”

Quiz on Facebook and VKontakte

#empty on Instagram

Instagram feed

#MuseumSelfie

Blog: museum architecture

Book on museum architecture and interiors

What’s next?

Lessons learned

• If interiors themselves become the priority, they will limit the way museum functions can be performed

• History as a subject really depends on the current political climate: museum building can be in danger

Lessons learned

• Pay attention to the institutional history

• Look around and learn from other projects

• Consider building/facility as a valuable resource which can support mission statement

Anna MikhaylovaPhD candidate

am780@le.ac.uk