OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2014. A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts was held in Moscow, where a decision was taken regarding establishing the Museum Development Fund and the Executive Committee of the Board.

Alexander Gafin, Member of the Council of Rietumu Bank, Latvia, was appointed the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the museum.

The meeting of the Board of Trustees was co-chaired by the Vice Prime Minister of the government of Russia Olga Golodets and Peter Aven.

In the course of the meeting, reports on the concept of the museum development were read, proposals on the discussion of the architectural concept of development, on the preparation of information regarding key collections of the museum and potential acquisitions for their development were taken into consideration and the work plan of the Board of Trustees for 2014 was also approved.

The Board of Trustees is a collegiate authority of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, established for the purpose of organising support and fundraising for museum development, supplementing its collections, the promotion of projects and popularisation of the museum in the world.

The Board of Trustees includes cultural luminaries and recognised entrepreneurs, including the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the museum Irina Antonova, the museum Director Marina Loshak, the General Director of Channel One Konstantin Ernst, the co-founder of the Fund Irina Prokhorova, CEOs of the companies Novatek and Rostelecom, Gazprombank and Vnesheconombank.

“The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, with its excellent collections and unique academic staff, is justly included in the world’s museum elite. This authority has been formed over decades under the supervision of the outstanding fine art expert Irina Antonova. There have been a number of legendary exhibitions and unique projects in the history of the museum which have contributed to bringing countries, peoples and cultures closer together, often paving the way for further activities of politicians and diplomats. To work in the Board of Trustees of this museum is a big honour and responsibility for me. My chief long-term task in this position, in my opinion, is the creation of the best opportunities for the further development of the museum, strengthening its position in the museum community and world culture,” emphasises Alexander Gafin.