In 2025, the IX International Author’s Christmas Ornament Contest “Create an Exhibit for the Hermitage” will be held, organized by the State Hermitage Museum together with the Technopark “Aira” of Yuri Berestov.

The contest continues the long-standing tradition of creating New Year and Christmas decorations by hand. Anyone over the age of three can participate. The main requirement is that the contest entries must be handmade and correspond to the declared theme.

This year, three anniversaries of outstanding architects are celebrated, whose works are forever inscribed in the history of architecture and urban planning of St. Petersburg: the 325th anniversary of Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli, creator of the city’s main landmark – the Winter Palace; the 355th anniversary of Domenico Trezzini, the first architect of St. Petersburg; and the 250th anniversary of Carlo Ivanovich Rossi, author of the General Staff Ensemble. In honor of this, participants are invited to refer to masterpieces of world architecture and express their imagination on the theme “Beauty in Details.”

When creating ornaments, participants may depict individual architectural elements: columns of various orders, pilasters, arches, pediments, or try to reproduce in miniature such famous structures as the Palace of Versailles or the Parthenon. You can take on the role of an architect and create a model of your own building, inspired by the works of architects from different countries and eras.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

Create a New Year ornament on the theme “Beauty in Details.”

• The ornament can be made of any material,
• in any technique and shape, while keeping the size within: no more than 150×150×150 mm and no less than 50×50×50 mm,
• weight not exceeding 400 grams,
• the ornament must have a way to attach it to a Christmas tree.

Complete electronic registration for participation on the contest website: https://konkurs.aira.ru/ and wait for confirmation with your application number from the Organizing Committee sent to the email provided in your application.

No preliminary selection by photo will be conducted.

Applications are accepted from October 15. The ornament must be delivered to the Aira Technopark office by December 1, 2025 (inclusive) after receiving confirmation with your application number by email. Include the received application number in the package. Packages without the application number will not be accepted.

If sending by mail, use the address: 196607, P.O. Box 18, Pushkin. Recipient – LLC “Aira.”

You may also send via Yandex delivery to the pick-up point: St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Aleksey Tolstoy Boulevard, 5A. Recipient phone: +7 (958) 523 85 95

If you wish to deliver the ornament personally, we welcome you on weekdays from 11:00 to 16:00 at: 196607, St. Petersburg, Shkolnaya (Pushkin) Street, 39/33 B, room 5-N. Contact: +7 (958) 523 85 95, Lyudmila. Please notify us in advance.

Attention: if sending from outside Russia, due to changed customs declaration rules, please submit the contest entry under a private individual: Nikitina Lyudmila +7 (958) 523 85 95.

The organizer does not provide delivery status information. Please track it yourself using the delivery service tracking number. Delivery costs are borne by the participant.

The organizers are not responsible for the safety of the ornament during delivery to the Aira Technopark office.

One participant – one ornament. If more than one entry is sent, the organizers reserve the right to select one ornament for the contest without additional notice.

Ornaments sent for the contest are not returned.

Only 150–200 of the best works will be published and will decorate the main Christmas trees in the Hermitage Theatre. These will also participate in the online audience vote.

Organizers do not provide feedback on why a work passed or did not pass the contest.

Each participant will receive an electronic diploma, in which they can enter their name and print it. Contest winners will receive valuable prizes. If you do not receive a participant diploma by January 14, 2026, please write to: konkurs@aira.ru

Organizers are responsible for not disclosing personal data (personal data law).