For small museums, this solution presents a great opportunity to reach a regional level, participate in large-scale projects and programs, and promptly address emerging challenges.
It is important to note that nearly all museums in the military region require restoration. Some have been damaged during combat, such as the local history museums of Mariupol and Donetsk, while others urgently need modernization and the provision of modern equipment. Uniting museums into a single network will help systematize the approach to the issues that have arisen.
As of autumn this year, around two dozen museums were operating in the DPR, three of which are state-owned. Their collections include over 350,000 exhibits: documents from the Great Patriotic War, works by renowned painters, and rare archaeological finds.
This is why it is so crucial not only to restore the architectural elements of museums but also to enhance the preservation of unique collections. Despite the ongoing hostilities, the museums in the DPR are not only recovering their lost elements but also creating interactive exhibitions that can attract young people and make the study of the local history more accessible. Already this year, over 150 cultural and entertainment events have been held in the renovated museums, with around 30,000 participants.
A unique program for the restoration of museum items from the reunited territories of Russia is also directed towards the development of museum affairs in the DPR. This program is planned for six years, during which approximately 2,000 museum exhibits are expected to be restored. Within this program, regional restoration specialists will have the opportunity to undergo comprehensive training.
In his Telegram channel, Solntsev announced the commencement of repair works at the Republican Art Museum and the museum of polar explorer Georgy Sedov in the eponymous settlement, and he also expressed gratitude to the federal Ministry of Culture for its assistance to the republican cultural institutions.
In 2025, two more cultural institutions will be opened in the DPR – the Theater Museum and the Donetsk Museum dedicated to the activities of the Rutchenkov underground group that operated in Stalino.