OREANDA-NEWS  On 09 June was announced, that Russia’s Ministry of Culture and Alfa-Bank set up a managing company and the Venetian Pavilion Fund to aid the reconstruction of the Russian Pavilion in Venice.

The Russian Pavilion, built in 1914 to architect Alexey Shchusev’s designs, is situated inside the Jardini Park. Previously, the pavilion has had to be repaired every year, using money from sponsors and the state in order for exhibitions to take place. However, experts say that the historical building needs reconstructing rather than repairs.

Serious reconstruction work is planned to take place over the next three years, for the first time since 1956. Work will begin in autumn, once the 53rd Venice biennale has taken place. Estimates for the cost of the project are still unknown, but it looks set to require some hundreds of thousands of Euros.

Alfa-Bank President Peter Aven said, "We have set up a pool, and contributions for the reconstruction of the Pavilion have reached ? 1 mln so far."

The Venetian biennale, one of the oldest contemporary art fairs in the world, first began in 1895. The major biennale project, involving over 90 artists and art unions from various countries, is traditionally held in the Arsenal, which dates back to the 13-16th centuries. Exhibitions will be held in 29 pavilions in the Jardini Park and in the city’s exhibition areas.

Once the long-awaited reconstruction of the Pavilion is completed, more Russian culture is expected to be on display at this prestigious event: as well as art exhibitions and architecture there will be contemporary dance, music and cinema displays.

Leonid Ignat, Director of Communications and PR at Alfa-Bank, said, "Alfa-Bank has a long-standing reputation as a patron of the arts both in Russia and abroad. Other large-scale international projects sponsored by the bank include the Kazimir Malevich: Suprematism exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. I hope the new project will be a worthy continuation of our cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, increasing the number of admirers of Russian culture abroad."