Specialists of St Petersburg University took part in the ICOMAM Toledo 2021 Conference
During the week of 15–19 November, the ICOMAM Toledo 2021 Conference was held in the Museo del Ejército (Army Museum in Toledo, Spain, attached to the Ministry of Defence). The specialists of the Department of International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation, St Petersburg University, Julia Nikolaeva and Elena Elts took part in this scientific gathering.
The ICOMAM 2021 Conference (ICOM International Committee for Museums and Collections of Arms and Military History) named “The military historical legacy: mirror of the past, reflection for the future” brought together 50 experts from Russia, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Azerbaijan, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Malta, etc. The programme of the Conference involved 14 presentations on the role and activities of military museums.
Director of the “The Northern Convoys International Centre” Foundation, Vladimir Solomonov, and Elena Elts, assistant professor of the SPbU Department of International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation, presented a report on the experience of creating Memorial Complex “Northern Convoys” in St Petersburg. The joint paper of the representatives of the Foundation and SPbU focused on the activity of the Northern Convoys International Centre in Russia, its work on the creation of the Memorial Museum and Memorial Complex, cooperation between the Foundation and the Department of International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation in the implementation of the project.
The Northern convoys International Centre is partnering with the SPbU Department of International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation on the joint projects under an educational programmes “International Activities of Museums” and “Academic Internship” aimed at establishing international contacts with foreign museums, diplomatic representatives, veterans organizations and developing a shared understanding of war history.
Paul van Brakel, Chairman ICOMAM ICOM, National Military Museum (the Netherlands), and Mark Murray Flutter, member of ICOMAM Executive Board, Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries (the United Kingdom) expressed their support for the initiative of creating Memorial Complex “Northern convoys” and their readiness to assist in the development of cooperation with the military museums of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Andreja Rihter, Director of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, Secretary at the ICOMAM Executive Board, also supported the activities of the Department of International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation to develop the international cultural ties.