Birthday wishes for Geraldine Norman

On 13 May 2020, a long-standing friend of the Hermitage – Geraldine Norman – celebrates her birthday.

The well-known British journalist, one of the founders of the Hermitage Foundation UK and author of the books Biography of a Great Museum and The Piotrovskys. Keepers of the Ark, Geraldine Norman has for many years been an advisor to Mikhail Piotrovsky as General Director of the State Hermitage.

Dear Geraldine,

On behalf of the Hermitage museum I am writing this to congratulate you with your anniversary birthday. Your input into the development of the image of our museum, knowledge about it in the United Kingdom and English-speaking countries and our cultural relations is enormous. You have even played a significant role in changing state laws to enable bringing art from Russia to the UK.

Here in Russia and in Petersburg in particular you’ve made a lot to broaden people’s understanding of contemporary art. You have helped a great many wonderful exhibitions and other projects to happen, moreover you have generated many of them.

You are not only a very valuable colleague, you are a priceless personal friend for me. I am grateful for the exciting time spent with you in discussions and writing books about St Petersburg, the museum and my own family history so that it will remain live for the future generations.

You are a very creative and brave person, you are fun to work with and we wish you to stay so and be with us for many more happy returns of this day!

Mikhail Piotrovsky

General Director of the State Hermitage museum