2014 is the year of the 175th anniversary of the birth of the great scientist, one of the most respected world travelers, honorary member of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolai Mikhailovich Przewalski.
A number of events will be organized to celebrate the anniversary – scientific conferences, photo exhibitions, and even the release of a collection postage stamp, the solemn cancellation of which took place at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society on April 15, 2014. And in the homeland of the researcher – in Smolensk, a monument is planned to be set up. This initiative was supported by President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergei Shoigu.
On May 7 on the website of the Russian Geographical Society a fund raise campaign to spend on the monument was launched. Later each donor's name will be stated on the website of the Smolensk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, and in a special commemorative book, which will be given to a memorial house-museum of Przewalski.
Today, the Russian Geographic Society announced the launch of an open competition for the best project of the monument to Nicholas Mikhailovich Przewalski.
It is open to sculptors who have relevant professional qualification affirmed by the state document, and to creative teams.
The monument will be installed in Smolensk.
The Russian Geographical Society hopes that the winner will create the design of the monument, which, after its realization will become a city landmark.
Drafts are accepted until December 1, 2014. The results of the creative competition will be announced no later than December 21, 2014 and published on the website of the Russian Geographical Society.
Monuments to many famous people in Russia are “people’s”. One of the most famous monuments erected on people’s money is the monument to “citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky” in Moscow, next to the Cathedral of St. Basil. Money for the monument to Pushkin in Pushkin Square of the capital was gathered at the initiative of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum graduates. The monument to Gogol in Nikitsky Boulevard in Moscow was also built on public donations. 50 thousand rubles required for the construction of the first monument to Lomonosov in Arkhangelsk was being collected in two years. The Russian Geographical Society hopes that the monument to Przewalski will soon appear in this list.
Forms are to be filled out in Russian.