On December 8, 2021, the O.O.Osmerkin Art Memorial Museum hosted traditional celebrations on the occasion of awarding the winners of the Oleksandr Osmerkin regional prize in the field of fine arts and art history, dedicated to the 129th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding artist and teacher O.O.Osmerkin.
    This prestigious art award, established by the Kirovohrad Regional Council in 2005 at the request of the Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, is awarded in three nominations: "national tradition", "new trends", "art studies and art history".
    According to the jury's decision, the winners of the Oleksandr Osmerkin regional prize in the field of fine arts and art history in 2021 are: in the nomination "national tradition" - a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, a painter, head of the department of the Art Museum of the Kirovohrad Regional Council - Petro Art Gallery Ossovsky's "World and Homeland" Anatoly Kimnatny for a series of paintings created as part of the plein-air exhibitions "Kirovohrad region through the eyes of artists"; in the "newest directions" nomination - Honored Artist of Ukraine Nataliya Martynyuk from the city of Odesa for creative improvements in the original author's manner of drawing; in the nomination "art studies and art history" - the creative team of the "Museum of Arts of the Kirovohrad Regional Council": museum director Tetyana Tkachenko, artist of the 1st category Oksana Vizhevska and chief custodian of funds, honored worker of culture of Ukraine Valentina Nozhenko for the creation of a printed project - Album. Museum of Arts. Kropyvnytskyi (2020).
    The award winners were awarded by the chairman of the Kirovohrad Regional Council, Serhii Shulga, who presented diplomas of the established model, badges of the award winner, honorary awards of the regional council and the regional state administration - the sculpture "Steppe Eagle" and the corresponding monetary part of the award. Honored Artist of Ukraine Nataliya Martynyuk was not present during the celebrations, so her awards will be sent to her place of residence in Odesa.
    All award winners in their speeches thanked for the high appreciation of their creative works. The director of the art museum Tetyana Tkachenko spoke about the creative work on creating an album about the history of the museum and its unique collection, published with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Fund, and expressed special thanks to the deputy director of the museum Hanna Osipova, the chief custodian of the funds of the art museum, honored cultural worker of Ukraine Valentina Nozhenko shared her memories on the commemoration of Oleksandr Osmerkin's centenary in 1992, and the artist Anatoly Kimnatny, in accordance with the established tradition of award winners, donated to the funds of the O. O. Osmerkin Memorial Art Museum original paintings that will decorate the museum collection and will be repeatedly exhibited at exhibitions of modern Ukrainian fine art.
    Ihor Lipodat, the head of the Department of Tourism Development and Museum Affairs of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Kirovohrad Regional State Administration, congratulated the award winners.
    The decoration of the event was the musical greeting of Maryna Tkachenko - a teacher of music school No. 1 named after Heinrich Neuhaus, who performed "Rhapsody" by the German composer of the 19th century Johannes Brahms on the old memorial grand piano, the velvety sound of which created a festive mood and filled everyone present with positive emotions.
    Before the start of the event, the head of the regional council, Serhii Shulga, was pleased to familiarize himself with the museum exhibitions. And the festive event ended with a traditional photo session of the award winners in the memorial hall of the museum, their interview with the TV company "TTV" and improvised music playing on the piano by the piano music fan artist Anatoly Kimnatny.