The Hermitage Russia and an Iranian Research Institute sign an Agreement on Collaboration

The memorandum was signed by the General Director of the Hermitage, Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky, and the Director of the  Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Doctor Mostafa Dehpahlavan.

Mikhail Borisovich greeted the participants in the meeting: “Iran is one of the main countries for our museum. The Hermitage is in possession of a unique collection of works of Iranian art and is the custodian of long-standing traditions in the study of Iranian culture. Under the agreement we will be preparing an plan of events which envisages joint participation in archaeological expeditions, the organization of a series of research and exhibition projects, as well as the holding of Hermitage Days in Tehran and Days of Iran in the Hermitage.”

Also participating in the signing ceremony from the side of the State Hermitage were  Deputy General Director for Research Georgy Vadimovich Vilinbakhov, Academic Secretary Mariam Magomedovna Dandamayeva, the head of the History and Information Service Ivan Vladislavovich Korneyev, the head of the Oriental Department Natalia Viktorovna Kozlova, the head of that department’s Middle East and Caucasus Sector Pavel Borisovich Lurye and its leading researcher Anton Dmitriyevich Pritula.

Doctor Mostafa Dehpahlavan noted the importance of joint projects in the fields of ethnography, linguistics, cultural heritage and restoration: “We can hold scholarly conferences, organize exhibition projects, train specialists, and carry out joint works by archaeologists from Russia and Iran at Tel Uzbeki.”

On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the signing was attended by Doctor Jebrael Nokandeh, Director of the National Museum of Iran, and Doctor Zatollah Nikzad, Deputy Director of the  Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute.

The Hermitage and the  Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute have agreed to conduct joint archaeological researches and to develop projects for the restoration of cultural heritage sites, to produce joint scholarly publications and to provide professional development for young scholars through, among other things, the organization of secondments in both directions. Joint exhibitions are a compulsory part of the agreement: the Hermitage will host Days of Iran, while Hermitage Days will take place in Tehran.

The memorandum will run for five years with the possibility of prolongation. Its fulfilment will be monitored by an Oversight Committee composed of representatives of both sides. The committee will assess the results of research projects and training secondments, as well as approving projects for the following year.