In the crowded schedule of the UNESCO Director-General’s visit to the Russian Federation in March, 2019 the time for productive working meetings and cultural immersion were found. It allowed Audrey Azoulay to see both World Heritage ancient monuments located in our country and modern art works, as well as to meet with Russian cultural figures.
On March 6, the UNESCO Director-General visited the Russian Academy of Arts Museum and exhibition complex of Zurab Tsereteli’s Art Gallery and left flattering review about the exhibition, which amazed her with the oeuvre intenseness and profoundness of the famous sculptor who has the status of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
During the solemn ceremony in front of distinguished academicians and members of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO the President of the Russian Academy of arts Zurab Tsereteli bestowed the regalia of the Honorary foreign member of the Russian Academy of Arts on Audrey Azoulay.
The ceremony was followed by a working meeting of the Director-General with the Commission’s core group, which was participated by Minister of Science and Higher Education Mikhail Kotyukov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Dmitriy Kobylkin, Minister of Sports Pavel Kolobkov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for international cultural co-operation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeev, The Director of The State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky, the General Director of Moscow Kremlin State Historical and Cultural Museum Sanctuary Elena Gagarina, Goodwill Ambassadors and UNESCO Artists for Peace. During the interchange of views the meeting attendees discussed the status and prospects of cooperation between the Russian Federation and UNESCO, and the development path of new projects were set out.
Zoya Kritskaya