Three members of the University community have been honored by the ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States for organizing the fall 2003 festival, “Celebrating St. Petersburg: 300 Years of Cultural Brilliance.”

James Steward, director of the Museum of Art; Kenneth Fischer, president of University Musical Society (UMS); and Barbara Anderson, director of the Center for Russian and East European Studies (CREES), received medals from His Excellency Yuri Ushakov.

The formal awards ceremony—honoring those who have made significant contributions to Russian history and culture in commemoration of St. Petersburg’s 300th anniversary—took place March 23 at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The gold medallion is embellished with ribbons and decorated with the profile of Tsar Peter the Great, who founded St. Petersburg in 1703.

The University’s St. Petersburg festival celebrated the city’s 300th anniversary by showcasing its magnificent cultural achievements.

Events included an exclusive exhibition at the Museum of Art, “The Romanovs Collect: European Art from the Hermitage”; a series of music, dance and theater presented by UMS, including performances by the Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, and Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov”; and a host of lectures, films and workshops organized by CREES, including a groundbreaking symposium devoted to the legacy of choreographer George Balanchine, and an LSA theme semester.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be awarded such a distinction by the Russian Federation,” Steward said. “The collaborative nature of our undertaking clearly elevated its level of achievement, embodying the kind of partnership that U-M can do so well. I share this distinguished award with the Ford Motor Co. Fund, who so generously supported the landmark exhibition ‘The Romanovs Collect,’ and with the entire staff at the Museum of Art.”

The ceremony began with remarks by the Russian ambassador, which he delivered on behalf of the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

A reception followed in the embassy ballroom. Steward and Anderson were decorated with medals by Ambassador Ushakov. Fischer was unable to attend the ceremony.

Other dignitaries from the United States who were awarded medals for their promotion of Russian cultural achievements on the occasion of St. Petersburg’s 300th anniversary included: Frederick Fisher, executive director of Hillwood Museum and Gardens in Washington, D.C.; Suzanne Massie, a Russian cultural historian; Priscilla Roosevelt, a Russian scholar and author; and Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

To visit the archived Web site of the festival, go to http://www.umich.edu/stpetersburg. For more information on the Museum of Art, UMS and CREES, visit http://www.umma.umich.edu, http://www.ums.org or http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/crees.