The Novgorod Printing House Interactive Museum of the History of Printing and Russian Publishing House

The Chamber Interactive Museum of the History of Printing and Russian Publishing House “Novgorod Pechatnya” is a private creative initiative of Nikolai Mikhailovich Lokotkov and Elena Vladimirovna Zhirova. They conduct professional activities in the field of cognitive, interactive, educational projects related to the history and culture of ancient Novgorod land. They also help to revive the interest of creative youth in one of the most important types of fine art – printed graphics, and the preservation and development of print traditions in the Russian Federation.

Each visitor receives new knowledge according to the principle “exclusively for me”, which is not only the basis of museum’s work, but also constitutes a new local creative service for tourists: they are invited to become participants in the author’s program of workshops on linocut, etching, monotype studies, engravings on cardboard, silkscreen printing, ex libris book sign, hand-printing, and postcard design.

The Novgorod Printing House is located on the Trade side of Veliky Novgorod, on the territory of the historical architectural complex Yaroslavovo Dvorishche and Ancient Torg, in the building-monument of history and culture in the Trade Rows (18th century). In the ancient vaulted room, the atmosphere of the old printer’s workshop is recreated, where you can see the printing machines that were used in the last century, the tools of the engraving artist, typesetters, printed boards, modern prints, and original popular prints from various years. Placing a print in a historical building on the Trade side directly connects us with the appearance of the first Russian amateur prints. It was through Novgorod Trade that printed and hand-painted folklore picture sheets were coming from Europe to Russia. It was here that prints were first sold, which were called “Italian or German amusing sheets”, and then Russian popular prints, which soon became an indispensable decoration of every house of that time. The professional equipment and methodological content of the Novgorod Printing House allow for conducting workshops and seminars on printed graphics at a high technical and creative level.

The new, creative educational project of the print company “Print is great!” became the winner of the grant competition of the President of the Russian Federation for the development of civil society. The project aims to revive the interest of creative youth in one of the most important types of fine art – printed graphics, and to preserve and develop print traditions in the Russian Federation. The main idea of the project is to create print clubs in children’s art schools and art schools of the Northwestern Federal District, and teach students the basics of printing techniques (linocut, etching, cardboard engraving, monotype, silk screen printing).

Nikolay Lokotkov is an artist, graphic artist, member of the Union of Artists of Russia since 1982, the laureate of the prize named after academician D. S. Likhachev “For outstanding contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage of Russia”, and the laureate of the prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field mass media “For the contribution to the preservation and popularization of the cultural heritage of the country, and the upbringing and enlightenment of youth”.

Elena Zhirova is a General Director of the ANO “Dialogue of Cultures” (creative, artistic and pedagogical projects), director and co-owner of the art gallery “Na Torgu”, author and curator of numerous Russian and international art projects, art historian, and printer.