The national chain of Russia: My History multimedia parks benefits from huge charitable donations from Gazprom.
Gas giant Gazprom PJSC has raised its target for charitable donations by 60 percent, according to Bloomberg. This sets its donations at 26.3 billion rubles ($438 million).
The largest beneficiary is Russia: My History, a national chain of historical exhibitions. The chain is backed by the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church as it is seen to promote national pride.
The first multimedia pavilion opened two years ago at Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva (VDNKh). This is a Stalin-era trade show and amusement park complex in Moscow that was originally devoted to trumpeting Soviet economic achievements. 17 others have since mushroomed in cities across the country. Putin himself inspected a follow-up version of the display in a hall near Red Square.
Alexander Tarasov, the project’s spokesman, said funding for the parks is coming from local governments and donors. He identified just one donor – Gazprom.
“Gazprom cannot stand on the side-lines while great and glorious deeds are being done in Russia,” said Valery Golubev, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom at the opening of a history park in the Samara region earlier this month.
Russia: My History has been created by the Patriarchal Council for Culture and the Foundation for Humanitarian Projects. It uses material from Russian museums, historical archives and book depositories. Some are being seen for the first time.
The parks’ creators include historians, artists, filmmakers, designers and computer graphics specialists. The aim is to make Russian history a “bright, fascinating and at the same time objective narrative,” according to the parks’ website. “So that every visitor feels more involved in the events.”
Multimedia exhibits employ a combination of video infographics, animation, 3D modelling and digital reconstructions.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, is quoted on the Russia: My History website saying, “The exhibition gives an objective picture of the history of our country with all its victories, achievements and problems.”
Image: Russia My History
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-16/putin-s-generous-gas-giant-puts-church-and-state-above-investors
