Kuryokhin Centre
Sometimes, you feel like you can barely move for all of the museums and galleries in St. Petersburg! With hulking giants such as the Hermitage and Russian Museum, it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller venues scattered around the city. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the traditional paintings and sculptures, but you’re still seeking a little culture, then there is a place you can escape to.
Tucked away on a quiet street at the heart of Vasilievsky Ostrov sits an intriguing glass and concrete structure. This is the Kuryokhin Centre. Founded in 2004, the building is home to the Sergey Kuryokhin Foundation (named after one of the most groundbreaking composers and musicians of the 20th century).
With its focus firmly on all things experimental and contemporary, the centre is a fantastic chance for artists and musicians to present work considered to unusual or outrageous for other venues. Visit and you will see everything from interactive installations to art festivals. This place is one of a kind, and the organisers go to great lengths to promote artists’ work both locally and internationally.
Three annual world music festivals held are here – SKIF International Festival, Electro-Mechanica and Ethno-Mechanica. Any students lucky enough to currently be in St. Petersburg should get themselves to the centre this weekend, as the ‘Ethno-Mechanica’ festival takes place on 12th September, and the line-up is outstanding (see the link at the end of the article)! These festivals are hugely popular with locals and tourists alike, and have become a big part of the cultural scene in St Petersburg.
If you feel like something a little more relaxing, there are plenty of art workshops, exhibitions and performances to choose from. So, whether you’re a fan of experimental music, a modern art enthusiast, or just want an antidote to all of those marble sculptures, the Kuryokhin Centre is a fantastic experience. Check out their programme of events here:
http://www.kuryokhin.net/en/index.html
Address: Sredny Prospekt, V.O, 93, St. Petersburg
