The partnership between Sberbank and the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts marks a bold step toward safeguarding and sharing the world’s cultural treasures for generations to come. Announced during the opening of the Cathedrals of Rouen exhibition and the examination of Claude Monet’s works from the Pushkin collection, the agreement signals a shared commitment to fuse financial innovation with artistic preservation. The ceremony was attended by the president of Sberbank and chair of its board, German Gref, alongside Elizaveta Likhacheva, director of the Pushkin Museum, underscoring the high level of collaboration and strategic intent behind this initiative. The announcement came through the bank’s press service and reflects a broader vision to enhance access to art through cutting-edge technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sber and its affiliates and partners will assist the Pushkin Museum in developing modern tools for education, outreach, and the ongoing preservation of the museum’s collections. The goal is to create a robust digital infrastructure that supports scholars, students, and art lovers alike, ensuring that artworks remain accessible while being safeguarded for future study and appreciation. This collaboration aims to blend traditional curatorial expertise with state-of-the-art digital platforms so visitors can engage with masterpieces in new and meaningful ways, regardless of their location. The plan emphasizes both the protection of cultural assets and the dissemination of knowledge to a wider audience.
A central objective is the creation of a digital, interactive copy of the museum complemented by augmented reality travel experiences. This initiative envisions immersive educational journeys that allow users to explore galleries, learn about historical contexts, and interact with high-resolution reproductions of works. By layering AR experiences over physical spaces and digital representations, the project seeks to extend the museum’s reach beyond its walls and into classrooms, homes, and public spaces, where curiosity about art can be sparked and nurtured.
The parties also intend to pilot machine learning models and other artificial intelligence technologies aimed at enriching the museum experience and broadening public engagement with art and science. These tools could assist in cataloging, condition reporting, and the discovery of connections between works across collections. By analyzing visual patterns, stylistic markers, and historical data, AI can help curators uncover new interpretations, support educational programming, and tailor recommendations to individual learners. The shared objective is to harness AI in a responsible, transparent manner that complements scholarly expertise and enriches visitor understanding.
There is a clear emphasis on expanding the use of digital technologies across cultural institutions. In addition to the cooperation agreement, a detailed road map will be developed to implement specific initiatives and track progress. This roadmap will guide the rollout of digital projects, from data digitization and storage to immersive exhibitions and outreach campaigns. The intent is to build a scalable framework that other museums can replicate, fostering a national and international ecosystem where technology accelerates the preservation and appreciation of art and history. The collaboration promises to set a benchmark for how cultural institutions can modernize while preserving authenticity and scholarly integrity.
As German Gref put it, art and technology converge in a way that is inseparable in today’s world. The bank’s leadership believes that every innovation needs inspiration, and culture provides fertile ground for that spark. The tone of the remarks emphasizes the mutual reinforcement of creativity and tools that expand access to art. The overarching message is clear: technology is a catalyst for democratizing culture, helping ensure that great collections are not confined to a few institutions but become a shared resource for all citizens. This perspective reflects a forward-looking stance on how financial institutions can support cultural resilience and public education through responsible innovation, partnerships, and investment in people and ideas.
Gref also noted that art should reach as many people as possible, especially younger audiences, and that the most modern technologies are essential for achieving this goal. The aim is to make Pushkin Museum treasures and expert insights accessible to a broad audience across the country, enriching classrooms, libraries, and community spaces with engaging, accurate, and well-curated content. The broader objective is to bring curatorial excellence, historical context, and artistic wonder to new generations, thereby fostering a lasting appreciation for the arts and their role in society. The emphasis is on practical outcomes—increased accessibility, enhanced educational value, and stronger public participation in cultural life—driven by innovative digital tools.
Elizaveta Likhacheva, director of the Pushkin Museum, described modern technologies as offering remarkable opportunities for museums of all kinds. She explained that digitization of collections, expansive databases, and new methods for scientific work and education will become increasingly central to museum operations. As AI technologies advance, more possibilities emerge to broaden access and deepen understanding of artworks. A primary goal is to complete the digitization of the Pushkin collection, a monumental task that tests the capabilities of any single institution. With Sber’s support, the museum hopes to accelerate this process, ensuring that researchers, educators, and the general public can explore and study masterpieces with unprecedented ease and accuracy. The collaboration is framed as a practical engine for modernization that respects scholarly rigor and the preservation of cultural heritage, while expanding the museum’s influence across the country.