Museum diplomacy as a branch of Russia’s cultural diplomacy

Today, the museum is not only a collection of art objects but also a place of diplomatic interaction. Museum diplomacy as a part of Russia’s cultural diplomacy is being formed as a new scientific and practical area of research in international relations. Russian museums actively participate in intercultural exchange and promote the popularization of Russian culture. Olga Razina, Deputy General Director for the production of thematic programs and special projects at the St. Petersburg TV channel, took the theme of museum diplomacy as the basis of her own video project and final qualification work at MGIMO University. The project was supported by public figures and diplomacy experts, including: - Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum; - Elena Gagarina, Director of the Moscow Kremlin Museums; - Alexander Sholokhov, President of the International Council of Museums in Russia; - Vladimir Gusev, Director of the State Russian Museum; - Anna Velikaya, a Russian expert in public diplomacy and humanitarian cooperation.