{{Short description|Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox museum | name = Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art | logo = File:Erarta Museum logo 10th anniversary (en).svg | image = Музей современного искусства Эрарта.jpg | established = {{start date and age|df=yes|2010|9|30}} | location = 2, 29th line of Vasilyevsky Island<br />Saint Petersburg 199106 Russia | website = [https://www.erarta.com/en/ erarta.com] }}
'''Erarta''' is the largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia, located in Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inyourpocket.com/st-petersburg-en/erarta-museum-of-contemporary-art_65530v|title=Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art {{!}} Sightseeing {{!}} St.Petersburg|website=inyourpocket.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref> The museum is combined with the Erarta Galleries.
The name of Erarta Museum is derived from uniting two words, "Era" and "Arta", whose combination can be translated from Russian as "the era of art".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/erarta-museum|title=Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, St. Petersburg, Russia|website=Google Arts & Culture|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
The museum has been recognised as one of the "5 Cultural Gems" in Saint-Petersburg by ''National Geographic''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/russia/st-petersburg/things-to-do-top-museums-culture/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127063101/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/russia/st-petersburg/things-to-do-top-museums-culture/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2018|title=5 Cultural Gems in Russia's Imperial Capital|date=2018-01-22|website=Travel|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
== Museum building == Erarta is housed in a five-storey building constructed in 1951 for the district committee of the Communist Party and later occupied by the Synthetic Rubber Research Institute.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bohlen|first=Celestine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/arts/09iht-scstpetersburg09.html|title=Nouveau Hip Art Meets Feisty Grunge in St. Petersburg|date=2011-04-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Two sculptures installed at the entrance to the museum, ''Era'' and ''Arta'', were commissioned by Erarta and created by sculptor Dmitry Zhukov.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/discover-erarta-discover-yourself/uwIiMazx7So2IQ|title=Discover Erarta. Discover yourself. - Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art|website=Google Arts & Culture|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
== Museum collection ==
Erarta Museum collection contains over 2,800 works, dating from the 1950s to the present and ranging from realism to abstraction and primitivism, by more than 300 artists from all across Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/about/|title=About the museum|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref> In addition to paintings, it includes drawings, prints, sculptures, installations, and video art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/collection/|title=Collection|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
On 30 June 2015, the collection of Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art became digitally available via the Google Arts & Culture Project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/erarta-museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506121929/https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/erarta-museum|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 2016|title=Erarta Museum and Galleries of Contemporary Art|publisher=Google Cultural Institute}}</ref>
== History and activities == Erarta Museum officially opened its doors to the public in September 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/st-petersburg/activities/erarta-museum-of-contemporary-art-admission-ticket/a/pa-act/v-7692P53/360547|title=Erarta Museum Of Contemporary Art Admission Ticket {{!}} St Petersburg, Russia Activities|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
The museum stages exhibitions, publishes art catalogues, organises guided tours and educational programmes, and promotes a number of signature projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/about/|title=About the museum|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
From 2013 to 2017 Erarta Museum organised Erarta Motion Pictures, the world's only festival of short films about painting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://festagent.com/en/festivals/erarta_motion|title=Erarta Motion Pictures|website=Festagent|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
In 2013–2015, Erarta hosted the CROSS ART International Festival of Synthesis of Arts. The festival was open to all applicants willing to participate, as long as their projects featured a mixture of several art forms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/calendar/events/detail/1fbfe8bd-d06d-11e3-ad2e-8920284aa333/|title=▲CROSS ART. International Festival of Synthesis of Arts|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
Erarta features several cinema halls. One of them (on floor 3) is screening Art-Animation – short animated films inspired by and developing the storyline of some paintings from the museum's collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/projects/detail/izoanimacia/|title=Art-Animation|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> The second one is showing The Adventures of BB Square cartoon series (2014).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/projects/detail/multfilm-chernyy-kvadrat/|title=The Adventures of BB Square|website=erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
In 2024, a case was filed in a Saint Petersburg court against the museum over its display of a painting by Belarusian artist Sergei Grinevich called ''Festival'', which has been part of its collection since 2016. The complainants alleged that the phrase “Zyvie Bielarus!” (“Long Live Belarus!”), which was inserted under the painting since 2020, violated laws against the display of "Nazi propaganda", citing its usage by pro-German Belarusian collaborationists in World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/18/art-museum-in-st-petersburg-charged-with-nazi-propaganda-a85754 |title=Art Museum in St. Petersburg Charged With ‘Nazi Propaganda’ |website=The Moscow Times |language=en|access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>
== Unique projects ==
=== Russia in Erarta === Russia in Erarta project is aimed at promoting contemporary Russian art and establishing a cultural dialogue between Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities. The museum's curatorial team frequently travels to other parts of the country, taking the highlights of Erarta's permanent collection on travelling exhibitions and bringing back to St. Petersburg outstanding artworks from Samara, Perm, Novosibirsk, Izhevsk, Ufa, Krasnodar, Vladivostok and other cities. In turn, Erarta showcased its collection in Krasnodar, Omsk, Surgut, Khanty-Mansiysk, Kazan, Saratov, Lipetsk, Kirov, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Veliky Novgorod, and other cities across Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/projects/detail/russia-in-erarta/|title=Russia in Erarta|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
=== U-space === U-spaces are immersive installations created in collaboration with various artists, each with its particular theme and mood. During a 15-minute session, each U-Space provides a unique emotional and mental experience to a group of up to 5 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/projects/uspace/|title=U-Space|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
=== YOUnits === YOUnits on floor 3 of Erarta Museum are 50 small cubicles that can be rented for creative self-expression. YOUnits can display any media or genre: design, photography, painting, sculpture, installation or collage art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/projects/detail/soTy/|title=YOUnits|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
=== The Valley of Colours === In 2019 Erarta Museum presented The Valley of Colours, a book for the whole family written by Erarta's founder Marina Varvarina and illustrated by the artist Nikolai Kopeikin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/dolinakrasok/|title=VALLEY OF COLOURS a book for the whole family|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
== Exhibitions == Every year, Erarta stages around 40 temporary exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, photographs, fashion, design, and video art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/|title=Erarta is Russia's largest private museum of contemporary art, a must-see place for gaining insight into modern Russia.|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> The museum showcases up-and-coming talents from Russia and abroad and established stars of the global art scene.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/calendar/|title=What's on|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
* To mark its 5-year anniversary (2015), Erarta Museum organised the first Russian show by the Brazilian pop-art artist Romero Britto<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://travelsquire.com/britto-debuts-in-russia-at-erarta/|title=Britto Debuts in Russia at Erarta|last=Foster|first=Felicia A.|date=2015-08-05|website=Travel Squire|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> and exhibited the creations of the award–winning Irish haute couture milliner Philip Treacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eng.where.ru/spb/event/one/2182|title=Where's Choice: The most Interesting Places and Events in St. Petersburg|website=eng.where.ru|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> * Year 2016 saw the exhibitions by the Soviet and Russian photojournalist Yuri Abramochkin, creator of the portrait of Yuri Gagarin, and the Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mutualart.com/Exhibition/Sebastiao-Salgado--Genesis-project/2962278CE3067141|title=MutualArt.com - The Web's Largest Art Information Service.|website=www.mutualart.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> as well as the ''Glorious World of Fellini'' project, a showcase of more than 50 costumes from the Italian director's films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inyourpocket.com/st-petersburg-en/fellini_2934e|title=Amazing Fellini|last=|first=|date=|website=www.inyourpocket.com|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> * In 2017, jointly with the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK), Erarta presented ''Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear'', a retrospective underwear design transformations from the 18th to the early 21st centuries''.''<ref>{{Cite * In 2021, monumental paintings and installations by nonconformist artist Igor Novikov(painter) were exhibited in Erarta.
web|url=https://www.inyourpocket.com/st-petersburg-en/undressed-a-brief-history-of-underwear_6817e|title=Undressed: A Brief History Of Underwear {{!}} St.Petersburg|website=www.inyourpocket.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> Another important exhibition was ''Brandrealism: A Retrospective'', a solo exhibition by the musician and Leningrad band frontman Sergey Shnurov.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artrussia.ru/en/artnews/236|title=The leader of the "Leningrad" Sergey Shnurov prepared a solo exhibition of his paintings in St. Petersburg - news of art in Russia and abroad|website=artrussia.ru|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> Also in 2017 Erarta Museum completed the construction of a new exhibition space designed for displaying large-scale art objects and vehicles. The first show to be held in this venue was ''LAMBORGHINI: Design Legend'', an exhibition of the Italian brand's rare supercars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsmarket.com/news/-lamborghini.-design-legend---the-exhibition-celebrating-lamborghini-design--opens-at-the-erarta-mus/s/913b8e02-ea58-46f0-be0c-03b592234fa2|title="Lamborghini. Design Legend", the exhibition celebrating Lamborghini Design, Opens at the Erarta Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in St. Petersburg|website=The NewsMarket|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> * In 2018, Erarta exhibited monumental bronze sculptures by the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedaliuniverse.com/en/news-the-salvador-dali-sculptures-exhibition-the-erarta-museum-saint-petersburg-russia-came-its|title=The "Salvador Dalí: Sculptures" exhibition at the Erarta Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, came to its closing date. {{!}} The Dalí Universe|website=www.thedaliuniverse.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> and artworks by the contemporary Chinese artist Liu Bolin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liubolinstudio.com/2018/02/17/liu-bolin-the-invisible-man-erarta-museum/|title=Liu Bolin: The Invisible Man|date=2018-02-17|website=LIU BOLIN|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> * In 2021, monumental paintings by the nonconformist artist Igor Novikov were exhibited in Erarta. * Erarta's high-profile projects in 2019 included an exhibition of photographs by the fashion photographer Mario Testino<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mutualart.com/Exhibition/Mario-Testino--Superstar/2ABCAAE9D34B0CA5|title=MutualArt.com - The Web's Largest Art Information Service.|website=www.mutualart.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> and ''Style Ducati'', an exhibition of collectors' editions of the Italian Ducati motorcycles, as well as design concepts, photos and videos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/news/style-ducati-the-iconic-italian-motorbike-brand-s-design-style-goes-on-show-in-saint-petersburg|title="Style Ducati": the iconic Italian motorbike brand's design style goes on show in Saint Petersburg|website=www.ducati.com|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
== Recognition == * In 2013, Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art was rated among the top 10 museums in Russia on TripAdvisor travel website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaa.com/travelguides/saint%20petersburg-rus/top-10|title=AAA Travel Guides - Saint Petersburg, RUS|website=www.aaa.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visit-plus.com/node/3975|title="Erarta" contemporary art museum {{!}} Museums in Saint Petersburg|website=www.visit-plus.com|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * In 2015, Erarta became the first Russian museum of contemporary art to be featured on Google Arts and Culture project. Starting from 30 June 2015, artworks from Erarta's collection can be viewed online through Google Arts and Culture platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/erarta-museum|title=Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, St. Petersburg, Russia|website=Google Arts & Culture|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * In 2016, Erarta Museum received the Baltic Star International Award for its contributions to supporting culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/news/news-item/news/2016/news_288_16/!ut/p/z1/jZFNT4QwEIZ_iweOttPyud4qWep-kHpwFXsh7KYLGKCk4Dbx14url42Kzmkmed533slgiTMsu-JUl8VY665opvlZBrlgLCBuDGu-gQAYBypYSl2-DPDTGYBfigGW_9HPAHLefv3XgukCatI4LbHsi7G6rrujxlmn7IAzCiT47HMaRTn5iCMvDYVYUmCCJ959wglPwm_AahNOwIN_J8RjTGPvC5jPXO9bZA8tAuRTH4i7AIhCGnrROTDr9m40BTbqqIwy6NVMn6jGsR9uHHDAWotKrctGoYNuHfhJUulhxNklift2l71tbxerF785bdnVOySpUXI!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?lng=en&lng=|title=13th Baltic Star Awards Ceremony|last=|first=|date=|website=www.hermitagemuseum.org|access-date=}}</ref> * In 2018, National Geographic magazine named Erarta Museum one of the '5 cultural gems' in St. Petersburg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/russia/st-petersburg/things-to-do-top-museums-culture/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127063101/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/russia/st-petersburg/things-to-do-top-museums-culture/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2018|title=5 Cultural Gems in Russia's Imperial Capital|date=2018-01-22|website=Travel|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * In 2018, the global art encyclopedia Oxford Art Online published an extensive article about Erarta Museum and a guide to its permanent collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordartonline.com/page/1962;jsessionid=0F958268F0DDAD9CC1B553715B41B064|title=Erarta Museum|website=Oxford Art Online|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * In 2019, the international newspaper Financial Times spotlighted Erarta Museum as 'one of the city's most exciting places'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f8fd27a0-ee7b-11e9-a55a-30afa498db1b|title=The winter city: St Petersburg's revival|last=|first=|date=|website=www.ft.com|access-date=}}</ref>
== Erarta Restaurant == Erarta Restaurant located on floor 1 of Erarta Museum features two rooms with a total seating capacity of 100 guests showcasing works by contemporary Russian artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://restaurant.erarta.com/en/|title=Erarta Restaurant in Saint Petersburg|website=restaurant.erarta.com|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> This à la carte establishment is particularly well known for its desserts rated as the best in St. Petersburg by both TripAdvisor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298507-zfg9909-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html#EATERY_LIST_CONTENTS|title=THE BEST Dessert in St. Petersburg - Tripadvisor|website=www.tripadvisor.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> and Time Out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2017.timeoutresto.ru/judges|title=Time Out Restaurant Awards 2017: Winners|last=|first=|date=|website=2017.timeoutresto.ru|language=ru|access-date=}}</ref> Erarta Restaurants also creates desserts inspired by certain major exhibitions held at the museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/museum/news/detail/news-070619/|title=Erarta Restaurant Creates a Dessert Inspired by the Exhibition Mario Testino: Superstar|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>
== Erarta Home Stores == Erarta Home Stores on floor 1 of the museum's Exhibitions Wing offer signature souvenirs, books, interior décor items, prints, and original artworks''.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.erarta.com/en/visit/erartahome/|title=Erarta Home|website=www.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> They are also available through the Erarta Shop Online Store.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.erarta.com/en/shop/|title=Erarta Shop|website=shop.erarta.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>
==See also== * List of museums in Saint Petersburg
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.erarta.com/en/|Erarta official website}} * [https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/erarta-museum Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art at Google Arts and Culture Project] * [https://www.oxfordartonline.com/page/erarta-collection-guide/erarta-museum Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art on Oxford Art Online] {{Modern and Contemporary art galleries in Russia |state=expanded}}
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Category:Art museums and galleries established in 2010 Category:Contemporary art galleries in Russia Category:2010 establishments in Russia Category:Art museums and galleries in Saint Petersburg