Yekaterina Kryunas is a Nizhny Novgorod administrator in the fields of culture and tourism, and Director of the ANO "Agency for the Preservation and Development of Historic Environment Sites" (ASIRIS) since December 2023. Prior to this appointment, she headed the Gorodets Historical and Art Museum Complex.[1]

Education and Early Career

In 2011 she graduated from the Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship (formerly the Faculty of Finance) at Lobachevsky University, and in 2017 from the Faculty of Law at the NRU RANEPA. [1] From 2015 she worked as Deputy Director of the <17 >Tourist Information Center of Gorodetsky District, and from 2016 as Deputy Head of the Department and Head of the Division for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Tourism within the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Gorodetsky District Administration. From 2019 she headed the MBUK "Gorodets Historical and Art Museum Complex."[1]

The Gorodets Museum Complex and the "Masters of Hospitality" Competition

As Director of the Gorodets Historical and Art Museum Complex, Kryunas worked on the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites and their adaptation into museum spaces. In 2021, the Alexander Nevsky Museum opened in Gorodets on the grounds of the merchant Korytnikov's estate (1 Aleksandra Nevskogo Street), and was recognized by the Russian Ministry of Culture as one of the best newly opened municipal museums in the country.[4][5] The Gorodets Historical and Art Museum Complex received the Russian Government Prize in the field of tourism.[5]

In May 2021, Yekaterina Kryunas reached the final of the all-Russian competition for tourism industry workers "Masters of Hospitality," organized by the presidential platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity" and the National Union of the Hospitality Industry. The online semifinal featured 118 contestants from 48 regions of Russia, with 31 people from 20 regions advancing to the final.[2][3] Kryunas presented a project titled "Russia's Name — Alexander Nevsky," based on the concept of a museum exhibit revealing the image of the prince through a combination of classical and contemporary museum technologies.[2] The final of the competition was held in June 2021 in Nizhny Novgorod, at the new pavilion of the Nizhny Novgorod Yarmarka[2].[4] Kryunas was named one of the winners.

Appointment at ASIRIS

On December 8, 2023, the previous director of ANO ASIRIS, Ilya Lagutin, left his post by mutual agreement. From December 11, 2023, he was succeeded by Yekaterina Kryunas.[1][4] The appointment was linked to a change in the agency's operational concept: restored sites were to be incorporated into tourist routes of Nizhny Novgorod Region, each imbued with meaning in accordance with its historical identity.[4][5] Oversight of ASIRIS's activities within the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region was transferred to the Minister of Tourism and Crafts, Sergey Yakovlev.[4][5]

Sources

  1. Kommersant (Volga Region) — Yekaterina Kryunas to become new director of ANO ASIRIS — Kommersant Nizhny Novgorod (archive)
  2. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — A resident of Gorodets has reached the final of the "Masters of Hospitality" competition — Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
  3. V gorode N — A Nizhny Novgorod woman with a project about Alexander Nevsky has reached the final of the "Masters of Hospitality" competition (archive)
  4. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Ilya Lagutin steps down as head of ANO "ASIRIS" on 8 December 2023 (archive)
  5. Otkryty Nizhny — Yekaterina Kryunas appointed head of ASIRIS in Nizhny Novgorod — Society