RU 
EN Welcome to the website of Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art, an international academic conference that brings together researchers in art and architecture, cultural heritage, and museum practice. The conference offers a forum for thoughtful professional exchange between different scholarly traditions.
Lomonosov Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University hold the conference every two years, alternating between Moscow and St Petersburg. The State Hermitage Museum is its permanent partner.
Conference 2026
The 12th conference will take place in Moscow on 13–16 October 2026, both in person and online. Its working languages are Russian and English.
Applications are closed. Selection results are expected on 30 August, the session schedule on 14 September, and the detailed programme on 1 October.
Participants and applicants are kindly invited to follow the website for updates as the programme is prepared.
About the project
The conference addresses the history and theory of visual art and architecture, the conservation and interpretation of cultural heritage, and connections between academic research and museum practice. Its chronological scope extends from antiquity to the present.
The international academic conference Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art is jointly organized by Lomonosov Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University. The State Hermitage Museum is the conference’s permanent partner.
Programme Committee
- Mikhail Piotrovsky, the State Hermitage Museum — Chair;
- Lev Belousov, Lomonosov Moscow State University — Co-Chair;
- Abdulla Daudov, Saint Petersburg State University — Co-Chair;
- Anna Trofimova, the State Hermitage Museum — Deputy Chair.
Organizing Committee
- Mikhail Piotrovsky, the State Hermitage Museum — Chair;
- Abdulla Daudov, Saint Petersburg State University — Co-Chair;
- Svetlana Maltseva, Saint Petersburg State University — Deputy Chair.
The wider membership of the committees and working group may be updated for each conference cycle. Information about the team responsible for a particular edition is published with that conference year.
Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art is an international academic conference that brings together scholars from universities, museums, and other research and cultural institutions.
Established in 2010, the conference is now held every two years, alternating between Moscow and St Petersburg. It is organized by Lomonosov Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University, with the State Hermitage Museum as its permanent partner.
Academic scope
The programme addresses the theory and history of visual art and architecture, the study, preservation, and interpretation of cultural heritage in Russia and worldwide, and connections between academic research and museum practice.
Topics range from the earliest periods to contemporary art. The interdisciplinary format supports both fundamental research and practice-oriented discussion.
Participants
The conference welcomes art historians, historians, archaeologists, cultural researchers, conservators, museum curators, and other specialists working with architecture, fine art, and decorative art. The working languages are Russian and English.
Conference and publications
Research presented at the conference may be developed further through the project’s academic publications. Issues of the peer-reviewed publication are available on the Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art publication website.