Since 2019, the Russian State Art Library (RSAL), with the participation of the Section of Art Libraries and Museum Libraries of the Russian Library Association, has been holding a series of round tables “Storing Modernity. Why Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres of Contemporary Art Are Necessary.” The topics of the round tables in 2019–2021 attracted specialists from leading organisations and brought together professionals — experts in the field of contemporary art, library and museum staff, artists and designers, publishers and art historians.
Libraries and museums take into account the popularity of contemporary art in their policies and actively adapt to changing conditions. Museums and galleries acquire new works for their collections. Libraries are becoming transmitters of current trends in art and not only collect art objects, but also hold numerous exhibitions. With the advent of new technologies, artists have more opportunities for creativity and self-expression. In the 21st century, digital art has finally established itself as an object of library and museum collecting. Works of digital art have received a permanent place in libraries and museums and belong to the category of digital documents. There are significant differences from traditional ones in collecting, recording, and storing, including works of modern theatre scenography.
The 2024 round table will be a discussion platform. The topic of discussion is “Digital Art Documents in the Collections of Libraries, Museums, and Archives: How We Collect, Store, and Use Them.”
Specialists from The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Russian Museum, the ROSPHOTO State Russian Museum and Exhibition Centre, the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre, the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia, and representatives of the Council for Digital Development of Museums under ICOM Russia have been invited to participate in the Round Table.
Various views on the issue will be presented by specialists from the Russian State Art Library (RSAL), the A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum, the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, and Moscow libraries. The discussion will feature Nikolai Simonov, chief artist of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, Alexey Tregubov, artist, gallery owner, set designer, museum designer, and Harry Hummel, chief artist of the Moscow Hermitage Theatre.
The library views the upcoming discussion as an opportunity to discuss issues of acquisition and the preservation of digital art and to develop a consolidated opinion on the formation of digital art collections, their assessment, and accounting.
The round table will be held on 26 September 2024, at 11:00.
Venue: The Russian State Art Library (RSAL)
1 Nikoloyamskaya St (Small Hall of the Library for Foreign Literature), Moscow
Contacts: +7(495)692-06-53 bisk@liart.ru
Registration: https://rossiyskaya-gosudarstvenn.timepad.ru/event/2976996/
