More than 90 years of constant research work based on the latest achievements of the science of history along with collecting and using best practices in this area have made the Museum one of the biggest centers of studying the Russian civilization of the second half of the 19th century up until the present day.

 

The museum collects, studies and exhibits historical artifacts which reflect 150 years’ history of social, political and economic development of our country and cultural values of its people. At present the Museum has about 1.300.000 historical and cultural records.

 

The museum coordinates with the Russian History Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, World History Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University and other research institutions of Moscow and foreign partners. The museum organizes conferences along with academic institutions and holds related exhibitions. The museum is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and many other its committees, the International Association of Historical Museums and the International Association of Labour History Institutions.

 

The museum organizes conferences and workshops where important problems of today’s museum business are discussed. Conferences are held both at the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia and the country’ largest local history museums.

 

Participants of these conferences discuss the role museums play in social life, their main specializations as well as how museums should reflect the country’s contemporary history. During the period from 2006 to 2009 the following conferences of Russian scientists were held: ‘Museums. Partnership, Community and Development’ at the Oceanographic Museum in Kaliningrad; ‘Symbols, Ethnos and Nationality’ at the State Hermitage Museum; Museums and Knowledge of History’ at the Bryansk Local History Museum. In 2010 the Museum of Local History and Architecture of Astrakhan will host a conference ‘Museum for the Purpose of Intercultural Communication’. The materials of the conference are published and available in stores.

 

Two times a year (in April and October) the museum provides training courses for employees of historical museums. The training courses include lectures and workshops on main areas of museum business of the 21st century such as:

 

how to prepare exhibits (idea, selection of materials, auxiliary materials, texts and labeling, exhibitor and artist);

 

how to gather museums’ collections regarding the country’s history of the 20th and 21st centuries with the consideration of modern approaches to the analysis of the historical process;

 

new laws concerning museum business; how to gather museum collections;

 

how to catalogue, assess and label a museum’s items;

 

how to analyze museum visitors and find new ways of working with them; problems of museum communication etc;

 

The training courses are provided as per specializations of students. In addition students may get some advice on issues of their interest, learn the practice of some Russian museums by using educational materials available for all students as well as acquire new literature on museum business.

 

Students can also visit some new exhibitions and participate in educational programs provided by Moscow museums as well as to take up individual training courses at their convenience.

 

The museum renders assistance to regional museums in preparing project documents, provides reviews concerning scientific conceptions of museums and expositions, recommends how to plan exhibits according to a particular subject area, and advises the staff of local museums on issues concerning usual museum routine