The first international conference "The Art and Practices of Hospitality" was held on November 25-28 in Nizhny Novgorod at the Volgo-Vyatka branch of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Arsenal) and in the city of Vyksa (Nizhny Novgorod region). The conference was organized by the OMK-Uchastiye Foundation with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund. It was dedicated to creating and developing a welcoming environment in art residences, museums and other cultural institutions through contemporary art, design, architecture and inclusion.

Within the framework of the conference, the 2nd Forum of the Association of Artistic Residences of Russia was also held in Vyksa. For cultural institutions of Russia, the conference has become
a platform for the exchange of advanced international experience in development and attracting new residents and audiences, discussing challenges in the era of a pandemic. This is especially relevant in a rapidly changing world where growing mobility and globalization meet with partially closed borders, difficulties in communication and translation. Thanks to the support of the organizers, the forum managed to bring together representatives of at least 25 residency institutions, who took part in a business breakfast on the first day of the conference and sessions, discussions and workshops on the following days.

In total, the conference team held 24 sessions, more than 50 discussions, workshops and events, the total number of visits exceeded 1500 times. The program was attended by representatives of France, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Lithuania, Italy, Great Britain, USA, Mexico, Chile.

The conference was held in a hybrid format (offline and online), which allowed everyone to join it. Recordings of broadcasts of a number of events will be available on the OMK-Uchastiye Foundation's YouTube channel.

The Association of Art Residences of Russia thanks the OMK-Uchastiye Foundation, the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Vyksa AiR. We also wish the Vyksa AiR a successful completion of the building's reconstruction, relocation and opening!

Details can be found on the conference website.