'Specialists from the museum-reserve 'Alexandrovskaya Sloboda' took part in the first day of the All‑Russian Wedding Festival, which opened at the exhibition-forum 'Russia'. This was already the fourth trip to the landmark project: twice the 'Museum of Ivan the Terrible' promoted the cultural and tourist potential of the region at the Vladimir Region stand. At the beginning of the year they travelled purposefully as a large group on a museum bus because they wanted to see the grand presidential project and, most importantly, to get acquainted with the know‑how in technical methodologies that make it possible to convincingly, attractively and creatively visualize the image of a place. For the modern visitor this is a priority,' says Svetlana Smirnova, head of the socio-cultural communications department of the museum-reserve 'Alexandrovskaya Sloboda'.
Yesterday's trip was markedly different. Responding to the Ministry of Culture's request to present existing themed programs and master classes in the format of a Wedding Festival, the museum-reserve offered its exclusive for the forum's stage. It was 'The Choice of the Tsar's Bride' — an interactive costumed reconstruction involving pavilion visitors. The organizing committee of the 'Russia' exhibition judged that a theatrical fragment of an authentic wedding ceremony from Alexandrovskaya Sloboda and the selection of the future tsarina (in the 16th century this was a matter of state importance) would bring a stately royal charm to the festival program in the form of a lively spectacle. On May 12 it was held with great success.
Svetlana Vershinina, public relations specialist of the museum-reserve 'Alexandrovskaya Sloboda', says: 'Indeed, we are satisfied with our work. We performed at VDNKh in the 'Our Culture' pavilion on the main stage. Despite the early-evening hour, visitors began to arrive by the appointed time; our video clips attracted attention and looked very presentable on the large screens. We took the maximum of props — a throne, stylized stools, costumes for the tsar, matchmakers and brides; we arranged musical accompaniment, etc. All of this worked, and of course the professionalism of colleagues on stage — a historical preview by Anastasia Listopad and a real interactive show by Ekaterina Kopeykina — made a difference. By the way, the museum-reserve was listed in the program for that day, and journalists from the 'Znanie' society were so interested that they not only interviewed us in detail but also wanted to take part in the 'Choice...'. So one of the tsar's brides was a journalist, and her colleagues provided an online broadcast (on Znanie's social media pages) of what was happening on stage — "the ceremony of choosing a bride for Ivan the Terrible in the princely town of Sloboda".'
Thanks to our colleagues who represented the museum admirably, worked with super-positive energy and put the Wedding Festival guests — the forum's mega-project — in a great mood!
