Today, on the 15th of December, the prospect of the establishment of the world’s first Museum of Heraldy, which is being planned to open in St. Petersburg, was discussed within the framework of the round table discussion “Heraldry as a means of communication. The concept of Heraldry museum of the State Hermitage Museum in the building of the Stock Exchange” of the Museums and Exhibition Projects Section of the IV St. Petersburg Cultural Forum. Some of the participants of the discussion were Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage Museum, Georgy Vilinbahov, head of the Heraldic Council of the President of the Russian Federation and deputy director of the State Hermitage Museum, and international heraldy specialists.


The museum complex will be situated in the Stock Exchange building, which has belonged to the State Hermitage Museum since 2014 and together with the Rostral Columns of the Vasilievsky Island constitutes the unique architectural ensemble completed by.

“The fundamental idea behind the establishment of the new museum can be illustrated by the following Confucius quotation: “Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws”, – said Georgy Vilinbahov. According to him, the construction of the building makes it possible to create flexible exhibition space to present the rich heraldic collection with the help of multimedia.


As the Stock Exchange may be called one of the most beautiful buildings of St. Petersburg, the halls of the new museum can be used as venue for award ceremonies and other ceremonial events. “We are certain that the new museum will become the first social institution that not only tells a story, but plays a big role in the city’s life”, said Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage Museum.


The Museum of Heraldy is set to open its doors to visitors in 2019.

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