On 11 September, within the United Cultures Forum, the long-awaited reopening of the Sergey Kuryokhin Center for Contemporary Art took place in St. Petersburg after reconstruction. The event became one of the key highlights of the cultural program of the XI St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chair of the Forum’s Organizing Committee Tatyana Golikova attended the ceremony as an honored guest.
“The architecture of the Center is imbued with the emotions and spirit of the person after whom it is named, Sergey Kuryokhin. Innovation and modernity were intrinsic to him. His works breathed exactly that. It is important to feel this and to discover new facets of his art,” said Tatyana Golikova. “May this space always be filled with the energy of creation, with live encounters and bold ideas.”
The grand opening of the renovated Center also brought together Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, the Center’s Artistic Director Anastasia Kuryokhina, and distinguished Forum guests.
The Sergey Kuryokhin Center for Contemporary Art was founded in 2004 in the former Priboi cinema building, and reconstruction began in 2016. The result is a new multifunctional complex built to cutting-edge standards and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, featuring two concert halls (large and small), rehearsal rooms, a public area, exhibition spaces, a cafe, a TV studio, and a mediatheque.
The interior of the updated Center combines references to the historic Priboi with elements of bionics: distinctive chandeliers in the foyer and expansive LED-screen surfaces. The architectural project was authored by Alexander Glebovich Petrov, an Honored Artist of Russia, multiple winner of prestigious international architecture competitions, and holder of numerous patents. The interior concept was selected through an open student competition won by young architect Nikita Sidorov.
In 2025 Sergey Kuryokhin would have turned 71. A composer, avant-garde musician, actor, artist, set designer, writer, researcher in non-academic fields, and master of artistic provocation, he became one of the most iconic figures in Russian culture of the late twentieth century.