Tsarist Russia joined Europe’s museum craze a little late, developing a few large museums by the time of the Revolution. The USSR later enthusiastically developed museums as educational and propaganda tools – even pioneering new types of museums. Today, the cities within the former Eastern Bloc contain surprising numbers of these institutions, both private and publically funded, and on nearly every subject imaginable. Many of these museums have survived wars, revolutions, and economic and political collapse, often by innovating ways of preserving, funding, and maintaining their collections. For anyone studying museum science, Russia and other former soviet bloc countries make for fascinating study abroad destinations.
The National Art Museum is Kyiv’s oldest museum. It opened its first exhibition in 1899 and today displays a plethora of art across eras and styles, making it a crown jewel in a city that is now filled with museums, galleries, and independent art spaces. It continues its operation with funding from the state, donors, […]