Local History Museums in Russia Set for Digital Upgrade

Applications opened in April for a new round of the Krasota vnutri. Krayevedcheskie muzei Rossii (Beauty Within: Local History Museums of Russia) grant program. The initiative supports regional cultural institutions and helps them adopt digital technologies.

The competition, launched by the VTB-Strana charitable foundation, is designed to support local history museums that struggle to compete with larger cultural institutions and require additional funding. According to Natalia Kochneva, senior vice president of the bank and chair of the foundation’s board, their work needs further support.

The first phase of the program has already been completed, with 15 million rubles ($~160,000) allocated. Funding was awarded to museums in 15 regions, including Tyva, Khakassia, Mordovia, Mari El, Kalmykia, Zabaykalsky Krai, as well as Ivanovo, Bryansk, Pskov, Ryazan, Amur, Penza, Chelyabinsk, Kostroma, and Kaliningrad regions.

One of the project’s key goals is digitalization, with technology expected to make museum collections more accessible and attract younger visitors. Supported initiatives include the mobile exhibition “World of the Nomad” in Kalmykia, an outdoor exhibition in Zabaykalsky Krai, and educational programs in the Urals.

In 2026, the program has been expanded to cover all regions of the country.