UrBC, Yekaterinburg, April 8, 2019. The Urals’ first birchbark crafts museum opened in Nizhniy Tagil with EVRAZ Holding’s support. The idea for the museum was first put forth by EVRAZ Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Plant (EVRAZ NTMK)’s employee Sergey Korotchene, who has been making different things using birchbark for many years now.

According to the company’s press service, the museum was fitted out with the grant money from EVRAZ: City of Friends - City of Ideas Project; the venue was provided by Nizhniy Tagil division of Russia’s Artists’ Union.

The museum now features an exhibition of Sergey Korotchene’s works and a number of antiques collected in the Ural villages. You can see unique birchbark containers, baskets, sugar bowls, and jewelry boxes there; every single item only exists in one copy. There’s also a workshop big enough for four artists in the adjacent room. Korotchene is planning on coordinating workshops for children and adults at the museum as well.