Аннотация: The Sketch about the Museum policy of count Nesselrode. Series 2
The Sketch about the Museum policy of count Nesselrode. Series 2
The count Nesselrode has addressed participants of the Great Museum Meeting:
- Misters, all of you read "The sketch about museum policy of the count Nesselrode"! If fog around our "activity" began to dissipate, then we need to hurry, figuratively speaking, "to mint a coin"! I wait for your offers.
- The easiest thing is to "deal" with the so-called "estates" and "manors"! - the voice of one of participants of meeting was heard.
- Please elaborate! - count Nesselrode demanded.
- After the final partition of the Rech Pospolita there was a lot of dissatisfied. It was necessary to confiscate many estates and manors. But the state was guided by civilized reasons - a certain part of the confiscated estates and manors has been announced by objects of cultural and historical heritage. The state has no money for their maintenance in the normal conditions and positions. They have fallen into decay.
- These estates and manors are located, as a rule, in quite good places. Good view. Forest. River (or other water resources), - the second participant of meeting explained.
- Not all so and is bad, - the count Nesselrode has said. - The partition of the Rech Pospolita - affairs are of deep antiquity. And now all these became a state estates and manors. Not only the half-ruined buildings, but also the public land plots with the forest, good views and water resources locals and visitors (from the large cities) are using for walks, rest.
- Why should we focus on the positive aspects of the existence of these objects of cultural heritage? - the third participant of meeting explained. - Yes! Comes from St. Petersburg or Moscow or another large cities some Pisarev or Dobrolyubov. He walks, rests. Or some local farmer or shopkeeper! But what benefit this process brings to us? We, of course, could organize a minimum of care for these ruins, minimal security, cleaning of household garbage. The cost of this, in general, - kopeks.
We could publish the historical, local history literature devoted to each place.
Generally, the tourist, public, historical interest to a dilapidated or even to a completely destroyed objects - not a rarity.
From Mexico tourists for survey of the such a distroyed manors, of course, will hardly arrive. But pupils from local seminaries or parochial schools could be brought for stories about history of the native land.
- This subject especially doesn't need to be developed, - the fourth participant of the meeting has prompted. - Some objects can receive sudden popularity. If regular excursions begin, then and some money for repair and restoration can appear. But to us what benefit from it?
- If I understand you correctly, there is nothing tragic, - from a social point of view, - not happening, - count Nesselrode summed up the interim results of the discussion. - There is a dilapidated complex of buildings - the former manors and estates. Under them - publicly available plots of land with forest, good views and river (or other water resources). People, local and visitors, visit, walk, rest... There are some opportunities to improve the situation - through the publication of historical literature, the organization of minimum protection, cleaning of household garbage, creating conditions for a local history excursions of local students and interested adults.
But for us a situation - really tragic! We have nothing from all this. Moreover, our existence - as officials - not eternal!
- That's the whole point! - there were remarks of participants of meeting.
- And what are the practical proposals? - the count Nesselrode asked.
- Let's define conceptually, - the fifth participant of meeting suggested. - What we need of? Dilapidated buildings, albeit with some historical and cultural value, and plots of land of public access, plots suitable for an improvement and rest of the population? Or we need?...
He tinkled by something in his pocket.
- It is necessary for us!... - participants of the meeting amicably tinkled by something in their pockets.
The count Nesselrode has favourably nodded.
- You see, we do not need to focus on the advantages that now exist! - the sixth participant of the meeting added. - We need to raise in all the media crying about the collapsing objects of cultural heritage! About the need to find for them "effective owners".
- Explain about the "effective owners" in more detail, - count Nesselrode suggested.
- These are people who will quickly turn destroyed or dilapidated manors and estates into construction waste. A restoring oh! so expensive! Neither individuals nor the state can afford it! It is sad to say, but a collapse of buildings and structures will continue. On a mass scale, neither the state nor private owners will be able to restore them.
- But we will be obliged formally to put a condition of restoration of objects before moment of a sale or leasing , - the count Nesselrode became interested.
- Not me and not you to explain, as circumvent the such conditions. Remember, for example, a widely used option of one-day firms. One firm destroys. The second fulfills a cleaning away. The third builds what is required. But one-day firms is just one of many options.
- Well, in the places of a dilapidated buildings can't the museums appear? - count Nesselrode showed the interest to details.
- It is expensive and ineffective. But completely we won't exclude such opportunity. As an exception there can be restored some buildings! We about them will inform the whole world! Also we will bring the Emperor our Nicholas I for their survey. He will praise us and will approve our activity.
The count Nesselrode has bowed to the Emperor's portrait.
Then he has continued a meeting:
- And "effective owners" will be motivated in a land plots, even with the forest and with rivers or ponds and with good views, but with free access for local residents and people from large cities?
A disappointed hum was heard in the conference room.
- Your Illustrious Highness, - explained the seventh participant, bowing. - Of which a free access of the citizens you say? Take for example the banks of large rivers. Especially in the European part and within cities. Previously, any local resident could come to the shore, go into the water, try to catch a fish. Some were swimming. Someone was sunbathing. Of course, there was a lot of household garbage, but people got used to it. To remove this garbage was not so expensive. But this garbage has been used as one of pretexts! "The effective owner is necessary"! Now the entire coastline, especially within the cities, is occupied by different cafes, bases, boat parkings. Generally, - territory is walled with fences.
- So and the entire? - the count Nesselrode has shown mistrust.
- There are geniuses, Your Illustrious Highness, - the eighth participant of the meeting has testified. - There where it was impossible to insert cafe, base or some other object there were small areas, micro-beaches. Around these micro-beaches low trees and bushes grew. People came there to bathe, sunbathe or catch fish. Under trees or bushes tried to find a shadow. So here's an ingenious persons have chopped these trees and bushes, and the chopped branches have placed and put along the coastline, - so that this part of the coast it was impossible to use!
However, I won't deny, in each large city there are one or several public beaches. As someone from creative people spoke, "The human - an animal public". That's first. Secondly, I heard that the mass rest, especially in large hotels, has a positive effect on the spread of viral infections. About beaches I didn't meet such obvious information, yet.
- We have talented people, - the count Nesselrode has agreed.
- So, - the ninth participant of meeting spoke, - about any free access of our favourite population to those land plots which will find "the effective owner", it can't be question. We must act in the spirit of the times: anyone who leaves his house or his apartment must see the fence.
In certain cases to go behind a fence it is possible - for a paid money.
"To tear up", if possible, money from all or almost from all!
- What about revenues? We will not do a leasing and a selling of a manors and estates free, without any price?
- There will be income, there will be also expenses, - the tenth participant of the meeting has explained. - Income can't be big. We assume - officially - restoration of the destroyed objects what demands enormous expenses. Our prices will be, therefore, close to symbolical. And expenses on inspection of objects, preparation of the project documentation, and others expenses will be considerable. Perhaps - enormous. It is necessary to mention about and expenses, and income very vaguely, making an impression that we are planning some very good bargain. Allegedly and considerable money in state budget we will receive, and a lot of new beautiful museums we will have. In fact, there will be fenced areas. And the money may not even be enough to reward us for our hard work.
- Rationally, - the count has given an assessment.
The count Nesselrode has thought. Then he have summarized:
- If we leave aside philosophy and talk about practical actions. We will making noise! We will care about culture! About our history! We can't quietly think of the collapsing estates and manors! We are looking for effective owners! We rent out or sell all these objects of cultural and historical heritage - manors and estates. What will happen after their alienation and sale is clear to us. But this, formally speaking, is not our business. First of all, these are legal issues. Secondly, everyone, including us, has the right to make mistakes. What is our recent history? Magnificent, fascinating plans. And disappointing consequences. We can't be an exception.
But us, personally us, these consequences should not to disappoint!
- Yes! - participants of meeting exclaimed and tinkled by something in their pockets.
- From a meeting we are passing to affairs! - the count Nesselrode solemnly announced.
Participants of the meeting have rushed to the jobs.
August 25, 2018 17:55
Translation from Russian into English: August 26, 2018 08:59.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Скетч о музейной политике графа Нессельроде. Серия 2'.