Nepal–Russia Museum Professionals Dialogue Held in Kathmandu
Dragon Media News Desk
An expert round-table titled “Nepal–Russia Museum Professionals Dialogue” was held at the Russian House in Kathmandu on July 23. The event, organised as part of a visit to Nepal by the Russian Committee of the International Council of Museums, ICOM Russia, brought together representatives of more than 15 Nepali museums.
The programme was inaugurated by ICOM Nepal Chair Ramesh Prasad Dawadi. Ramesh Raj Paudel, head of the National Museum of Nepal and executive director of the Patan Museum, also delivered a welcome address and presentation.
The Russian delegation included ICOM Russia Vice-President and Director of the Island-Town of Sviyazhsk Museum-Reserve Artem Silkin, ICOM Russia Executive Director Olga Chistanova, and ICOM Russia board member and Director of the Norilsk Museum Natalia Fedyanina. The programme was moderated by Roshan Singh Mishra of ICOM Nepal.
Om Prakash Ghimire delivered the main presentation from the Nepali side, outlining the current condition, priorities and professional-development needs of museums in Nepal. The Russian delegation introduced Nepali participants to the activities of Russia’s museum community, its training programmes and initiatives that could be developed through international cooperation.
The visit was described as a continuation of the museum dialogue previously established between Nepal and Russia. In June 2025, Nepal and Russia participated in the “Museum Alliance: Eurasian Initiative” meeting in Kyrgyzstan alongside India, the United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
The meeting discussed the creation of a network of museum residency programmes, professional training for museum specialists and the establishment of a new professional award. The Kathmandu visit aimed to establish direct contact with Nepali museum leaders and explore Nepal’s participation in these joint initiatives.
Artem Silkin and Olga Chistanova presented the “ICOM Russia School” project. During its first cycle from 2024 to 2025, six training modules were conducted in six Russian regions. The programme brought together more than 180 in-person participants, involved 59 experts and attracted more than 300,000 views of its online broadcasts.
Natalia Fedyanina presented the experience of the PolArt art residency in Norilsk. Operating since 2016, the residency has completed 10 seasons and hosted artists and curators from more than 20 countries, ranging from Scandinavia to Peru.
Anastasia Khokhlova of the Russian House in Kathmandu said Russia was open to Nepali museum professionals. She said the Russian House was prepared to share information about educational opportunities in museum studies, museum administration and the arts. Such programmes, she said, could support young people and contribute to the development of Nepal’s museum sector.
Following the visit, the two sides agreed to work towards developing an educational programme to enhance the professional skills of Nepali museum specialists, based on the model already implemented by ICOM Russia.
The International Council of Museums is a non-governmental professional organisation for museums and museum specialists. Established in Paris in 1946, it holds high-level consultative status with UNESCO and the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ICOM Russia has operated since 1957 and currently brings together more than 1,000 individual and institutional members.
Before the round-table, the Russian delegation met Russian Ambassador to Nepal Alexei Surovtsev and visited several museums in the Kathmandu Valley. The programme was organised with the support of the Russian House in Kathmandu.
Photos: Sofia Silkina and Santosh Karki
