History of the World: "The Palaces and the War. On the 100th Anniversary of the First World War" Research and Applied Conference at "Peterhof” National Park and Museum

The "Peterhof" State National Park and Museum have announced the "Problems of Preservation of Cultural Heritage. XXI Century" Fifth Annual Research and Applied Conference with a subject "The Palaces in the War. On the Occasion of the Centenary of the beginning of First World War."

Timing a conference to the 100th anniversary of the First World War in 2014, its organizers suggest discussing the representation the Nations’ Military History in the Palaces- Museums, the peculiar properties of palace life during a wartime, on the eve of the war and after the conclusion of peace, as well as the specifics of the Palace Museum in extreme conditions of military evacuations. Particular attention will be paid to the era of the First World War, its threshold and the consequences for the destinies of palace residences. However, the chronology of the "The Palaces and the War" theme can be greatly expanded.

The suggested examples of discussion’s topics are:

- A palace as an arena of political life. The palaces at the topography of diplomatic visits, contracts negotiations, and military victories celebrations;

- The war and peace rituals. Palace space and the history of diplomatic protocol;

- Art and war. Political ideology in palaces and parks design projects, in architectural works, painting, applied art and crafts;

- The wounds of war. An experience of restoration and reconstruction of the palace and park ensembles, evacuation and re-evacuation of the problem of cultural property;

- "Tough Questions" of the history" and the current activities of the Palace Museums."

The historians, arts critics, culture researches, architects, museums, scientific and educational institutions staff employees are invited to participate the conference.

Conference will be held in the last week of April 2014.