Interview with Viktor Boyarsky: "Icebreaker is an exhibit in itself"
While President Vladimir Putin of Russia declares a high priority for the development of the Arctic, the Petersburg Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic continues to struggle for existence. Museum director Viktor Boyarsky told Voennoe.RF about the current problems and prospects of exposure, and also revealed the details of the project of a new branch based on an icebreaker, which could cost Russian state-owned companies cheaper than buying new football players.
Victor Ilyich, let's start with the most burning topic. It is known that the building of the museum for many years trying to regain the church. In your opinion, does this somehow hinder the work of the museum?
Rather helps. I will not say that this situation strongly inspires or inspires us, but we have already passed the first stage of the stormy 90s, when everything seemed legal to everyone and religious organizations of various kinds appeared, including our Unified Parish (parish of the Nikolskaya Church of claimed the building in 2014 year, but was refused - Ed.), which arose from nothing. I still regret that at that time I myself did not organize this parish, then the problem would have been resolved.
Most regrettably, when considering the possibility of moving the museum, no one, starting with 1992, when it all began, did not offer any option at all to house the museum. That is, everyone believed that he (the museum - ed.) Should give the building, and where the exposition would move - few people cared, it was not even written in the papers.
At the time when it began, the museum was still a department of the Arctic Institute (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute - Ed.). Accordingly, the attitude towards him was like a museum of local significance. Although in itself it is unique in the country on the topic of the Arctic and Antarctic, it has existed since 1937 and has a great deal of well-deserved history.
And when did you come to work at the museum?
I worked at the Arctic Institute and practically all my activities before the 1992 had a very weak attitude to the museum. When in the 90-ies expeditionary activity in the Arctic Institute due to financial problems declined, I got the opportunity to stay in it. I organized a company that was engaged in my favorite business - expeditions to the North, to the South Pole, and so on. The museum was in distress because it was clearly underfunded. The attitude was the same to him, everyone dabbed him, and my colleagues from the Arctic Institute took some kind of patronage over him.
We managed to keep the museum in the most difficult years in conditions of very limited funding and confrontation with the Parish. It all ended with the fact that in 1998, the museum received the status of a state. Although the attitude towards him has changed, all the same, the claims of the Parish to this building remained and we passed a number of arbitration courts, eventually having received the building into operational management without any encumbrances. We won the first stage.
There was a lull, which after a tense struggle seemed even somewhat boring. Naturally, acute situations are much more successful attracting the attention of the press, information about the museum all the time appeared on the first and second pages and in different subjects. And then, when everything calmed down, the museum received the building, the interest disappeared. That is, we began to miss this kind of, but very effective advertising.
However, we did not have long to miss. Our remarkable deputies in 2010 adopted the law No. 327 FZ "On the transfer of property of religious significance of the Russian Orthodox Church". And the parish, which was a contender for the building in 90, in accordance with the law, filed another application for the transfer of the building. It was in 2012, and then the second round of our fight began.
What is regrettable here is that if in the past confrontation we were on the same team as our founder, Roshydromet, as it should have been, then in the second Roshydromet, where the new leadership came, decided that the museum was not a profile for them. that the building must be transferred, despite Rosgdromet’s lack of a building, at least theoretically suitable for moving the museum exposition.
The law is the law and must be fulfilled, but each time it is necessary to take into account what this execution entails. In this case, talking about the transfer of the museum from here - it simply means to destroy its historical exposition. Moreover, the exposition was created by the hands of very good masters in 30-40 years. First of all, these are the diaramas so much loved by our visitors, the adapted painting. The exposition, which, in fact, has grown together with not quite museum interiors, was very well inscribed. It conveys the spirit of that era when our achievements in the Arctic were very, very significant. The exhibition is in some way outdated, archaic, does not quite match what is now expected in modern museums, but this is its charm.
Roshydromet considered that the museum should be urgently transferred and, since it had no other options, we were offered to go to the conference hall of the Arctic Institute, and later another address appeared. We were faced with the task of defending the museum rather than the ROC, but from the clumsy attempts of a guide to get rid of the museum. Therefore, this struggle is now more difficult for me. Although the Federal Property Management Agency rejected the parish application due to the fact that the submitted documents did not have the protection obligation required by law and the Parish could simply contain this building, Roshydromet went further. He initiated the submission of the second application, not from the parish itself, but from the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
When there was a dispute with the parish, the Federal Property Management Agency announced that there was no building for the museum. Then we offered to pick up the 100-150 sq. meters of non-residential fund for the Coming 30 number of people who they can keep, and in which they can carry out services or carry out other activities.
Next to the museum was a medical equipment shop. His room is about 160 square. m and it was transferred to the Parish. But even with such a small room compared to the museum building at the Parish, not everything is simple. The abbot himself came to me, complained that they had to pay for the communal flat, and they had no money.
Literally in May of this year, the second application with a request to transfer this building to the Russian Orthodox Church for a period of 49 years, signed by the newly appointed metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga was submitted to the Federal Property Management Agency. Naturally, I, as one of the participants in the process, received this statement, and wrote an open letter to the Metropolitan. Now, you know, a similar claim of the Russian Orthodox Church to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, to the Savior on the Blood, and so on was recently announced.
We discussed this initiative with Boris Vishnevsky (deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg - ed.). We would like to try to legislatively amend the 327 law, which boils down to the fact that if there is a cultural institution (museum, art gallery, library, etc.) in a religious building for more than 50 years, this address is excluded from the transfer, because 50 years is enough time to understand that this cultural institution has become an integral part of this building. ZakS is ready to take this initiative.
We do not have so many believers that everyone in the church would be. With this approach, it turns out that here Vladimirskaya Church, through the 300 meters another temple, and so on. And the museum will be somewhere where there is no way to get there. This is wrong, in this case we are fairly and logically expect to exclude from these rules.
In Russia, there is an active growth of interest in the Arctic direction, this topic is more relevant than ever. In such a situation, should Roshydromet not, on the contrary, support you?
Roshydromet believes that the Arctic is not its theme, icebreakers are not its theme. Just a few weeks ago, I was in Moscow and once again received assurances from him that with your icebreaker you could go to the Ministry of Transport or anywhere else. They believe that the benefit of the museum is to move from this building.
Rosgidromet believes that the only way they can support it is the transfer of the church building. And to the question of what will happen to the museum, they told me: "what do you have there for the museum in general?". I say: "you were in this museum?". They answer me: "They were not." Well, they were not.
No one says that this is a super-modern museum, it is patriarchal, but visitors like it. Children come to us and no one drives them by force, only grateful reviews about us, attendance is growing, and in the “Museum Night” we are generally ranked among the three most visited museums in the city. That is, there is interest in the subject.
And the building, which is located within walking distance of three metro stations, is a huge plus, because bringing schoolchildren somewhere at the current cost of buses is wild money. Schools will be virtually cut off from this. And now on the subway is more accessible. For the 80 years that the museum is located here, it is already impossible to imagine this place without it. And I feel on my side a very powerful support of all: both believers and non-believers. No matter how much I spoke, live on radio and TV and always received the unequivocal support of all the callers, everyone said: "Just do not leave." But again, we need to look to the future and keep in mind where we can further develop the exhibition.
So the talk about the branch in Kronstadt is quite real?
I understand that it is impossible for us to develop in this beauty, in this church, there is simply not enough space, so a project for a second site in Kronstadt arose. The idea is that Kronstadt is one of the places where you can put the Arctic icebreaker. He, from our point of view, would become the main dominant of the second platform. In addition to the fact that even by itself it is sufficient as a branch or an exhibit, it would be possible to place part of our exposition on it and create expositions that, logically, reflect, say, the history of the development of Arctic navigation, the history of the polar aviation, the modern history of drifting stations. Because here it is very little lit. Here, in an old building, it would be logical to complete the polar history by the middle of the last century, the beginning of the war. And the war in the Arctic, the legendary Northern convoys, the development of the Arctic, including the study of the outer border of the continental shelf and hydrocarbon production, as well as the development of the transport route, the Northern Sea Route - all this would be reflected in the new exposition, and in this form, in such a form, which is in demand by the modern viewer. That is, in an interactive environment, using all multimedia effects, which is impossible to do here by definition.
As you know, there is the idea of creating a branch of the museum on the basis of one of the docks of the Kronstadt Marine Plant, Surgin Dock. We recently spoke with the general director of the enterprise, Anatoly Beloev, who said that they needed the dock and did not plan to transfer it. How can you comment on this?
Yes, we spoke with Anatoly Vladimirovich on this subject. It was about the fact that there would look very nice ground structure of the museum. The use of industrial structures is often used in the practice of modern museum-building, because it is, as a rule, large volumes. And the museum is first of all a volume, not even a square. For example, Roshydromet plans to transfer the museum to the former building of the North-Western Department of the Hydrometeorological Service. This building is located on Vasilyevsky Island. The area is 3400 square. meters, and we have here - 1900. But there it is achieved due to the fact that the building is crossed by ceilings at a height of 2,5 - 3 meters. If the ceiling is removed, then the area of the building will be different, and the volume there is two times smaller than ours.
In order for the exhibit to feel normal and the viewer did not feel the pressure of low ceilings, it is necessary that it be volumetric. That is why industrial architecture - workshops, hangars, docks - were originally created, if they, of course, are not used for their intended purpose, in order to develop some such good projects in them. And our project is based just on the dock of Surgina, closed by a kind of dome. This is one of the options, draft design. We spoke with Anatoly Vladimirovich Beloev, he said: "If there is a question like that and we decide everything else, and as part of the project, you will put a floating dock of the appropriate size instead, we will give this one back." That was the word Beloev. They really need a dock for repairing small boats. There are a lot of floating docks of this size, it is easy to get it.
Are there already known deadlines for the project?
So far this is very far. I happened to participate in a meeting of the Presidium of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic under the leadership of Rogozin, held 10 July. I performed there with this project. Of course, there are many skeptics, including Rogozin, who approached this very restrainedly. This is due to the extremely difficult situation with the federal budget. Now many budget programs are frozen. Therefore, it would be thoughtless to talk about spending quite serious money to deliver an icebreaker precisely in this period.
We had a calculation on the fact that we could use, with the consent of Rosatom, money, which, from 2016, according to our information, was laid for the disposal of the icebreaker "Arktika". This amount is about 2,2 billion rubles, and according to our estimates, it would take about 800 million rubles to convert the icebreaker, remove the reactor and tow the icebreaker to Kronstadt. Another big question is who will keep it in the future at a cost of approximately 50-60 million rubles a year. There is no one who would take on such courage and who would have enough for this finance.
But at a meeting in the Ministry of Economic Development 30 July, it turned out that this money is actually not there, they are not approved. And even if they are approved, specifically for the icebreaker recycling program, they will be allocated only in the 2021 year. That is, all this is extremely, extremely far.
In that case, what are you planning to do with the project in the near future?
We, the initiative group of the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic, wrote 28 letters to all members of the board of trustees of the Russian Geographical Society, which are on the list of our Russian Forbes. They wrote to all our rich entrepreneurs asking them to respond and help. Including Gazprom Neft, Lukoil. Those people who work in the Arctic. But the hope was that the state targeted program would still be launched, because it is unlikely that it would be easy to attract investments without federal money. I said all the time that the cost of the project is half a hulk (Zenit football player - ed.). If you sell it, then with this money the museum can contain 20 years.
To say that there is absolutely no money is wrong. Therefore, the hope that someone will respond.
However, I have already received a response from the Presidential Administration, where I wrote a letter addressed to Peskov Dmitry Sergeyevich with a request for political support. Of course there we did not ask for money, this is not the address to ask for money. As you know, when we make a political decision, everything miraculously turns out: there is money and investors. And the most direct path that leads to the Supreme Commander is through Peskov, through his press secretary. The answer came surprisingly quickly: "This is an important project, but there is no money." It also says that it needs to be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance. So while we had a pause.
But we continue. The project itself is still conceptual, but in order to speak seriously in the Ministry of Finance, you need to prepare, make at least a working draft of the draft design, but what the plant can work on. That is, not just to show what it is, but to paint which premises, where, what, which bulkheads are being demolished. It takes time and some money. After that, it will be clear what amounts are released on the icebreaker.
Because we do not turn an icebreaker into a museum, an icebreaker is an exhibit in itself. The main characteristic hubs, decks, bridge, radio room, the captain's cabin, it all remains as it is. Of course, the engine room, which is absolutely fabulous there. But residential cabins, the residential part of the hotel passes. There, in fact, you do not need to add anything, just bring in line with the requirements of modern equipment.
That is, there will be a hotel on the icebreaker?
Well, why not? There must be some kind of small hotel, it can be distinguished on one of the decks. There are nine decks on the icebreaker, 1100 rooms. This is a colossal construction, so there is enough space for everything. Say, the lower deck is given to the museum exhibition, somewhere there must be a crew, attendants, watch. There are places for the hotel, there is a large conference room where you can hold a symposium. The approach should be such that, in addition to the exposure, there is an infrastructure that attracts people. So that people come for a day or a half day, and not for half an hour. Therefore, now there is a need to make such a project. When the estimate is made, it will be possible to go to the Government with this project and talk with the Ministry of Finance.
When do you plan to finalize the project?
Depending on when we can find enthusiasts. One option that we can take is to announce a competition among the winners of our art and design studios, who could make the project just out of interest, without money. Because, if the eagles give the task, the square meter will cost so much euros. There is no such money and no one will give it. We also had the idea to submit a second time for a grant of the RGO. Last year we filed, tried to develop this idea, we were refused. Grant was a volume of 500 thousand rubles. But we will serve again this year. They allocate up to a million rubles, but this can only be enough for a project.
What was your grant called?
Grant for the creation of the architectural concept of the complex of the Arctic and Antarctic in Kronstadt. They (RGO - ed.) Have a section on “Preservation of Cultural Heritage”. We have declared on this nomination and did not miss us. There were some specific opposition in the composition of the expert council. Now, probably, it will not be so. We will submit three grants in three directions at once: a project for converting an icebreaker, a project for its museumification and a project for multimedia equipment.
While the issue with the icebreaker is being resolved, do you plan to create any other branches of the museum?
Not. We still exist in the existing volumes and here little by little we evolutionarily change the exposure, change the video series, update it, bring it into a more aesthetic look. Now we have taken on new employees and are putting our funds in order. This is the heart of the museum and, above all, we ourselves need to know what we have and in what form. We have a lot of work. This includes publishing, we are releasing our collections.
New exhibits someone provides you?
In general, new exhibits each takes itself, if we talk about organizations that have a certain museum or exhibition activities. We receive exhibits mainly due to the fact that we are given families of polar explorers. Albums, some personal items. There is no money to buy.
The last thing we received was a cross from the grave of one of the expedition members Fial 1904 of the year from Rudolph Island. It so happened that he fell and dragged him to the icebreaker. The captain of the icebreaker called me: "Where?". I believe that such things should remain in their places, but since the grave itself is no longer to be found, let it lie down. In any case, it will continue.
Can you evaluate how actively the development of the Arctic is being resumed?
In practice, it all started in the 2012 year, and the documents that suggested that we will return there are dated 2008 year. This is the "Fundamentals of state policy in the Arctic for the period up to 2020 year and further perspective." Then in 2013, the president signed the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. These are strategic basic documents that imply a huge infusion into the development of the Arctic zone and highways, and the equipment of the Northern Sea Route.
Real practical steps in this direction began in 2012. For example, the program of cleaning the Arctic from industrial waste is being implemented in practice. Now, in my opinion, it has slowed down, but it began quite actively, with thousands of barrels removed from Franz Josef Land. Yes, Russia is actively returning to the Arctic, is returning its position. Nobody talks about new ones, God forbid our old positions to be returned and restored. Expand runways, petrol bases and so on. Now this is exactly what is happening: radar stations are being built, they are being restored at the old places where they were once. But now, at another qualitative level, everything happens. Although, of course, if we are talking about infrastructure, then it is still far from the state in which it arrived in 70-s. Still, the rejection of the state supply of the Arctic in 90-s struck a very strong blow. Previously, there was a program of state supply of the Arctic villages with all the most necessary: from fuel to the last screw. In 1991, it was closed. As a result, part of the villages left, part was mothballed, part was abandoned. When the military left, and this happened before the 95 year, then there was nothing left at all.
In your opinion, the infusion of colossal funds, the construction of military bases, military facilities - is this necessary?
Of course. We have a border - 10 thousands of kilometers, it must somehow cover. There was a 20-year period, when you could just take a plane across the northern border to fly to Krasnoyarsk. And no one would stop, there was nothing to stop. And now, due to the fact that the shelf will be developed and taking into account the fact that all other countries did not like us very much, all this is necessary. So that we could protect the shelf and potential deposits. It is very important to ensure the provision of rescue operations in the Arctic, the solution of environmental problems. When caravans arrive, an oil spill due to an accident in the Arctic is much more sad in its consequences than the same oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Because in the Arctic, this oil does not decompose at all and does not go anywhere. It penetrates generally everywhere. This is a terrible disaster, and therefore it is necessary that there be a quick operational response to any unusual situations, and for this, of course, you need to restore the airfields, at least those that were military and dual purpose.
And how will the world community respond to the re-establishment of military bases in the Arctic?
They are outraged that we are beginning to expand something, to arm someone. But the cumulative military potential of the NATO forces in the Arctic is still more powerful. We have an advantage - an atomic icebreaking fleet, a certain experience in the Arctic. Russia does not increase anything, it restores what it was before. Within its territory, its territorial waters, and no one can forbid us to do this.
Victor Ilyich, let's start with the most burning topic. It is known that the building of the museum for many years trying to regain the church. In your opinion, does this somehow hinder the work of the museum?
Rather helps. I will not say that this situation strongly inspires or inspires us, but we have already passed the first stage of the stormy 90s, when everything seemed legal to everyone and religious organizations of various kinds appeared, including our Unified Parish (parish of the Nikolskaya Church of claimed the building in 2014 year, but was refused - Ed.), which arose from nothing. I still regret that at that time I myself did not organize this parish, then the problem would have been resolved.
Director of the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic Viktor Boyarsky
Military.RF
Military.RF
Most regrettably, when considering the possibility of moving the museum, no one, starting with 1992, when it all began, did not offer any option at all to house the museum. That is, everyone believed that he (the museum - ed.) Should give the building, and where the exposition would move - few people cared, it was not even written in the papers.
At the time when it began, the museum was still a department of the Arctic Institute (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute - Ed.). Accordingly, the attitude towards him was like a museum of local significance. Although in itself it is unique in the country on the topic of the Arctic and Antarctic, it has existed since 1937 and has a great deal of well-deserved history.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
spbhi.ru
spbhi.ru
And when did you come to work at the museum?
I worked at the Arctic Institute and practically all my activities before the 1992 had a very weak attitude to the museum. When in the 90-ies expeditionary activity in the Arctic Institute due to financial problems declined, I got the opportunity to stay in it. I organized a company that was engaged in my favorite business - expeditions to the North, to the South Pole, and so on. The museum was in distress because it was clearly underfunded. The attitude was the same to him, everyone dabbed him, and my colleagues from the Arctic Institute took some kind of patronage over him.
We managed to keep the museum in the most difficult years in conditions of very limited funding and confrontation with the Parish. It all ended with the fact that in 1998, the museum received the status of a state. Although the attitude towards him has changed, all the same, the claims of the Parish to this building remained and we passed a number of arbitration courts, eventually having received the building into operational management without any encumbrances. We won the first stage.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
tourbina.ru
tourbina.ru
There was a lull, which after a tense struggle seemed even somewhat boring. Naturally, acute situations are much more successful attracting the attention of the press, information about the museum all the time appeared on the first and second pages and in different subjects. And then, when everything calmed down, the museum received the building, the interest disappeared. That is, we began to miss this kind of, but very effective advertising.
However, we did not have long to miss. Our remarkable deputies in 2010 adopted the law No. 327 FZ "On the transfer of property of religious significance of the Russian Orthodox Church". And the parish, which was a contender for the building in 90, in accordance with the law, filed another application for the transfer of the building. It was in 2012, and then the second round of our fight began.
What is regrettable here is that if in the past confrontation we were on the same team as our founder, Roshydromet, as it should have been, then in the second Roshydromet, where the new leadership came, decided that the museum was not a profile for them. that the building must be transferred, despite Rosgdromet’s lack of a building, at least theoretically suitable for moving the museum exposition.
The law is the law and must be fulfilled, but each time it is necessary to take into account what this execution entails. In this case, talking about the transfer of the museum from here - it simply means to destroy its historical exposition. Moreover, the exposition was created by the hands of very good masters in 30-40 years. First of all, these are the diaramas so much loved by our visitors, the adapted painting. The exposition, which, in fact, has grown together with not quite museum interiors, was very well inscribed. It conveys the spirit of that era when our achievements in the Arctic were very, very significant. The exhibition is in some way outdated, archaic, does not quite match what is now expected in modern museums, but this is its charm.
Roshydromet considered that the museum should be urgently transferred and, since it had no other options, we were offered to go to the conference hall of the Arctic Institute, and later another address appeared. We were faced with the task of defending the museum rather than the ROC, but from the clumsy attempts of a guide to get rid of the museum. Therefore, this struggle is now more difficult for me. Although the Federal Property Management Agency rejected the parish application due to the fact that the submitted documents did not have the protection obligation required by law and the Parish could simply contain this building, Roshydromet went further. He initiated the submission of the second application, not from the parish itself, but from the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
base211.ru
base211.ru
When there was a dispute with the parish, the Federal Property Management Agency announced that there was no building for the museum. Then we offered to pick up the 100-150 sq. meters of non-residential fund for the Coming 30 number of people who they can keep, and in which they can carry out services or carry out other activities.
Next to the museum was a medical equipment shop. His room is about 160 square. m and it was transferred to the Parish. But even with such a small room compared to the museum building at the Parish, not everything is simple. The abbot himself came to me, complained that they had to pay for the communal flat, and they had no money.
Literally in May of this year, the second application with a request to transfer this building to the Russian Orthodox Church for a period of 49 years, signed by the newly appointed metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga was submitted to the Federal Property Management Agency. Naturally, I, as one of the participants in the process, received this statement, and wrote an open letter to the Metropolitan. Now, you know, a similar claim of the Russian Orthodox Church to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, to the Savior on the Blood, and so on was recently announced.
We discussed this initiative with Boris Vishnevsky (deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg - ed.). We would like to try to legislatively amend the 327 law, which boils down to the fact that if there is a cultural institution (museum, art gallery, library, etc.) in a religious building for more than 50 years, this address is excluded from the transfer, because 50 years is enough time to understand that this cultural institution has become an integral part of this building. ZakS is ready to take this initiative.
We do not have so many believers that everyone in the church would be. With this approach, it turns out that here Vladimirskaya Church, through the 300 meters another temple, and so on. And the museum will be somewhere where there is no way to get there. This is wrong, in this case we are fairly and logically expect to exclude from these rules.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
polarpost.ru
polarpost.ru
In Russia, there is an active growth of interest in the Arctic direction, this topic is more relevant than ever. In such a situation, should Roshydromet not, on the contrary, support you?
Roshydromet believes that the Arctic is not its theme, icebreakers are not its theme. Just a few weeks ago, I was in Moscow and once again received assurances from him that with your icebreaker you could go to the Ministry of Transport or anywhere else. They believe that the benefit of the museum is to move from this building.
Rosgidromet believes that the only way they can support it is the transfer of the church building. And to the question of what will happen to the museum, they told me: "what do you have there for the museum in general?". I say: "you were in this museum?". They answer me: "They were not." Well, they were not.
No one says that this is a super-modern museum, it is patriarchal, but visitors like it. Children come to us and no one drives them by force, only grateful reviews about us, attendance is growing, and in the “Museum Night” we are generally ranked among the three most visited museums in the city. That is, there is interest in the subject.
And the building, which is located within walking distance of three metro stations, is a huge plus, because bringing schoolchildren somewhere at the current cost of buses is wild money. Schools will be virtually cut off from this. And now on the subway is more accessible. For the 80 years that the museum is located here, it is already impossible to imagine this place without it. And I feel on my side a very powerful support of all: both believers and non-believers. No matter how much I spoke, live on radio and TV and always received the unequivocal support of all the callers, everyone said: "Just do not leave." But again, we need to look to the future and keep in mind where we can further develop the exhibition.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
culture.ru
culture.ru
So the talk about the branch in Kronstadt is quite real?
I understand that it is impossible for us to develop in this beauty, in this church, there is simply not enough space, so a project for a second site in Kronstadt arose. The idea is that Kronstadt is one of the places where you can put the Arctic icebreaker. He, from our point of view, would become the main dominant of the second platform. In addition to the fact that even by itself it is sufficient as a branch or an exhibit, it would be possible to place part of our exposition on it and create expositions that, logically, reflect, say, the history of the development of Arctic navigation, the history of the polar aviation, the modern history of drifting stations. Because here it is very little lit. Here, in an old building, it would be logical to complete the polar history by the middle of the last century, the beginning of the war. And the war in the Arctic, the legendary Northern convoys, the development of the Arctic, including the study of the outer border of the continental shelf and hydrocarbon production, as well as the development of the transport route, the Northern Sea Route - all this would be reflected in the new exposition, and in this form, in such a form, which is in demand by the modern viewer. That is, in an interactive environment, using all multimedia effects, which is impossible to do here by definition.
As you know, there is the idea of creating a branch of the museum on the basis of one of the docks of the Kronstadt Marine Plant, Surgin Dock. We recently spoke with the general director of the enterprise, Anatoly Beloev, who said that they needed the dock and did not plan to transfer it. How can you comment on this?
Yes, we spoke with Anatoly Vladimirovich on this subject. It was about the fact that there would look very nice ground structure of the museum. The use of industrial structures is often used in the practice of modern museum-building, because it is, as a rule, large volumes. And the museum is first of all a volume, not even a square. For example, Roshydromet plans to transfer the museum to the former building of the North-Western Department of the Hydrometeorological Service. This building is located on Vasilyevsky Island. The area is 3400 square. meters, and we have here - 1900. But there it is achieved due to the fact that the building is crossed by ceilings at a height of 2,5 - 3 meters. If the ceiling is removed, then the area of the building will be different, and the volume there is two times smaller than ours.
Submarine "Al Badr" in Nikolaevsk dock KMZ
Urban3p, German
Urban3p, German
In order for the exhibit to feel normal and the viewer did not feel the pressure of low ceilings, it is necessary that it be volumetric. That is why industrial architecture - workshops, hangars, docks - were originally created, if they, of course, are not used for their intended purpose, in order to develop some such good projects in them. And our project is based just on the dock of Surgina, closed by a kind of dome. This is one of the options, draft design. We spoke with Anatoly Vladimirovich Beloev, he said: "If there is a question like that and we decide everything else, and as part of the project, you will put a floating dock of the appropriate size instead, we will give this one back." That was the word Beloev. They really need a dock for repairing small boats. There are a lot of floating docks of this size, it is easy to get it.
Are there already known deadlines for the project?
So far this is very far. I happened to participate in a meeting of the Presidium of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic under the leadership of Rogozin, held 10 July. I performed there with this project. Of course, there are many skeptics, including Rogozin, who approached this very restrainedly. This is due to the extremely difficult situation with the federal budget. Now many budget programs are frozen. Therefore, it would be thoughtless to talk about spending quite serious money to deliver an icebreaker precisely in this period.
We had a calculation on the fact that we could use, with the consent of Rosatom, money, which, from 2016, according to our information, was laid for the disposal of the icebreaker "Arktika". This amount is about 2,2 billion rubles, and according to our estimates, it would take about 800 million rubles to convert the icebreaker, remove the reactor and tow the icebreaker to Kronstadt. Another big question is who will keep it in the future at a cost of approximately 50-60 million rubles a year. There is no one who would take on such courage and who would have enough for this finance.
But at a meeting in the Ministry of Economic Development 30 July, it turned out that this money is actually not there, they are not approved. And even if they are approved, specifically for the icebreaker recycling program, they will be allocated only in the 2021 year. That is, all this is extremely, extremely far.
Kronstadt Marine Plant
FlotProm.ru, Sergey Severin
FlotProm.ru, Sergey Severin
In that case, what are you planning to do with the project in the near future?
We, the initiative group of the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic, wrote 28 letters to all members of the board of trustees of the Russian Geographical Society, which are on the list of our Russian Forbes. They wrote to all our rich entrepreneurs asking them to respond and help. Including Gazprom Neft, Lukoil. Those people who work in the Arctic. But the hope was that the state targeted program would still be launched, because it is unlikely that it would be easy to attract investments without federal money. I said all the time that the cost of the project is half a hulk (Zenit football player - ed.). If you sell it, then with this money the museum can contain 20 years.
To say that there is absolutely no money is wrong. Therefore, the hope that someone will respond.
However, I have already received a response from the Presidential Administration, where I wrote a letter addressed to Peskov Dmitry Sergeyevich with a request for political support. Of course there we did not ask for money, this is not the address to ask for money. As you know, when we make a political decision, everything miraculously turns out: there is money and investors. And the most direct path that leads to the Supreme Commander is through Peskov, through his press secretary. The answer came surprisingly quickly: "This is an important project, but there is no money." It also says that it needs to be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance. So while we had a pause.
Project of a branch of the museum in Kronstadt
But we continue. The project itself is still conceptual, but in order to speak seriously in the Ministry of Finance, you need to prepare, make at least a working draft of the draft design, but what the plant can work on. That is, not just to show what it is, but to paint which premises, where, what, which bulkheads are being demolished. It takes time and some money. After that, it will be clear what amounts are released on the icebreaker.
Because we do not turn an icebreaker into a museum, an icebreaker is an exhibit in itself. The main characteristic hubs, decks, bridge, radio room, the captain's cabin, it all remains as it is. Of course, the engine room, which is absolutely fabulous there. But residential cabins, the residential part of the hotel passes. There, in fact, you do not need to add anything, just bring in line with the requirements of modern equipment.
That is, there will be a hotel on the icebreaker?
Well, why not? There must be some kind of small hotel, it can be distinguished on one of the decks. There are nine decks on the icebreaker, 1100 rooms. This is a colossal construction, so there is enough space for everything. Say, the lower deck is given to the museum exhibition, somewhere there must be a crew, attendants, watch. There are places for the hotel, there is a large conference room where you can hold a symposium. The approach should be such that, in addition to the exposure, there is an infrastructure that attracts people. So that people come for a day or a half day, and not for half an hour. Therefore, now there is a need to make such a project. When the estimate is made, it will be possible to go to the Government with this project and talk with the Ministry of Finance.
Project of a branch of the museum in Kronstadt
When do you plan to finalize the project?
Depending on when we can find enthusiasts. One option that we can take is to announce a competition among the winners of our art and design studios, who could make the project just out of interest, without money. Because, if the eagles give the task, the square meter will cost so much euros. There is no such money and no one will give it. We also had the idea to submit a second time for a grant of the RGO. Last year we filed, tried to develop this idea, we were refused. Grant was a volume of 500 thousand rubles. But we will serve again this year. They allocate up to a million rubles, but this can only be enough for a project.
What was your grant called?
Grant for the creation of the architectural concept of the complex of the Arctic and Antarctic in Kronstadt. They (RGO - ed.) Have a section on “Preservation of Cultural Heritage”. We have declared on this nomination and did not miss us. There were some specific opposition in the composition of the expert council. Now, probably, it will not be so. We will submit three grants in three directions at once: a project for converting an icebreaker, a project for its museumification and a project for multimedia equipment.
While the issue with the icebreaker is being resolved, do you plan to create any other branches of the museum?
Not. We still exist in the existing volumes and here little by little we evolutionarily change the exposure, change the video series, update it, bring it into a more aesthetic look. Now we have taken on new employees and are putting our funds in order. This is the heart of the museum and, above all, we ourselves need to know what we have and in what form. We have a lot of work. This includes publishing, we are releasing our collections.
Project of a branch of the museum in Kronstadt
New exhibits someone provides you?
In general, new exhibits each takes itself, if we talk about organizations that have a certain museum or exhibition activities. We receive exhibits mainly due to the fact that we are given families of polar explorers. Albums, some personal items. There is no money to buy.
The last thing we received was a cross from the grave of one of the expedition members Fial 1904 of the year from Rudolph Island. It so happened that he fell and dragged him to the icebreaker. The captain of the icebreaker called me: "Where?". I believe that such things should remain in their places, but since the grave itself is no longer to be found, let it lie down. In any case, it will continue.
Can you evaluate how actively the development of the Arctic is being resumed?
In practice, it all started in the 2012 year, and the documents that suggested that we will return there are dated 2008 year. This is the "Fundamentals of state policy in the Arctic for the period up to 2020 year and further perspective." Then in 2013, the president signed the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. These are strategic basic documents that imply a huge infusion into the development of the Arctic zone and highways, and the equipment of the Northern Sea Route.
Icebreaker "Arktika" on the sludge in Murmansk, July 2012 of the year
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Real practical steps in this direction began in 2012. For example, the program of cleaning the Arctic from industrial waste is being implemented in practice. Now, in my opinion, it has slowed down, but it began quite actively, with thousands of barrels removed from Franz Josef Land. Yes, Russia is actively returning to the Arctic, is returning its position. Nobody talks about new ones, God forbid our old positions to be returned and restored. Expand runways, petrol bases and so on. Now this is exactly what is happening: radar stations are being built, they are being restored at the old places where they were once. But now, at another qualitative level, everything happens. Although, of course, if we are talking about infrastructure, then it is still far from the state in which it arrived in 70-s. Still, the rejection of the state supply of the Arctic in 90-s struck a very strong blow. Previously, there was a program of state supply of the Arctic villages with all the most necessary: from fuel to the last screw. In 1991, it was closed. As a result, part of the villages left, part was mothballed, part was abandoned. When the military left, and this happened before the 95 year, then there was nothing left at all.
In your opinion, the infusion of colossal funds, the construction of military bases, military facilities - is this necessary?
Of course. We have a border - 10 thousands of kilometers, it must somehow cover. There was a 20-year period, when you could just take a plane across the northern border to fly to Krasnoyarsk. And no one would stop, there was nothing to stop. And now, due to the fact that the shelf will be developed and taking into account the fact that all other countries did not like us very much, all this is necessary. So that we could protect the shelf and potential deposits. It is very important to ensure the provision of rescue operations in the Arctic, the solution of environmental problems. When caravans arrive, an oil spill due to an accident in the Arctic is much more sad in its consequences than the same oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Because in the Arctic, this oil does not decompose at all and does not go anywhere. It penetrates generally everywhere. This is a terrible disaster, and therefore it is necessary that there be a quick operational response to any unusual situations, and for this, of course, you need to restore the airfields, at least those that were military and dual purpose.
Infrastructure creation in the Arctic
Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
And how will the world community respond to the re-establishment of military bases in the Arctic?
They are outraged that we are beginning to expand something, to arm someone. But the cumulative military potential of the NATO forces in the Arctic is still more powerful. We have an advantage - an atomic icebreaking fleet, a certain experience in the Arctic. Russia does not increase anything, it restores what it was before. Within its territory, its territorial waters, and no one can forbid us to do this.
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