The exhibition “Dvortsova Street – the past and the present” prepared to the 260th anniversary of the town foundation is a result of cooperation between the museum and a famous Kirovograd photo journalist Ihor Demchuk within the framework of initiated by the museum art project “At the crossroads of Elisavetgrad – Kirovograd”. The aim of the project is to present streets of Kirovograd in photographs showing succession of architectural language from the town foundation to the present as indissoluble history of construction of an integral urban environment, recreating life of dwellers and visitors of the town, and to awake interest of vast masses in studying their past.
    Igor Mykolayovych Demchuk– a member of the National Union of journalists of Ukraine (1993), the National Union of photo artists of Ukraine (2005), laureate of the Award named after V.Vynnychenko of “Narodne Slovo” newspaper (1999) and Regional Award for journalists in the nomination “photo journalism” (2005), was awarded Gold medal of Ukrainian journalism (2010). Born in 1962 in Brody, Lviv region. Graduated from Lviv State University named after I.Franko, the Department of Journalism (1984). Worked as a photo correspondent of TARS-RATAU, Ukrinform in Kirovograd region (1984-1995), since 1995 – photo correspondent, special correspondent of the regional newspaper “Narodne Slovo”. A participant of all-Ukrainian and regional photo exhibitions.
    In 2011 I.Demchuk successfully presented an author’s photo exhibition “Stop and admire” to the 145th anniversary of Elisavetgrad architect Ya.Pauchenko in O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum. Photographs of the buildings of the historical centre of Elizabethgrad (since 1934 – Kirovograd), most of which are situated in Dvortsova Street, including Ya.Pauchenko’s own house (1899) – an architectural and town building monument (now the museum of a famous artist and pedagogue O.O.Osmerkin), were shown at the exhibition.
    The present days Dvortsova Street is one of the longest main central streets of the town where significant historical and architectural monuments are situated. They were constructed by prominent architects of the past A.Dostoevskyj, O.Lyshnevckyj, Ya.Pauchenko and also by modern authors – continuators of past traditions, laureates of Regional Award in the sphere of architecture, heraldy and vexillology and decorative and applied arts named after Yakov Pauchenko.
    Architectural gems of the past and the present in Ihor Demchuk’s photographs, that are shown at the current exhibition, merge into one time extension in the photographs that are shown at the exhibition. The photographs are full of life in all its manifestations – holidays and work days, children’s smiles and payment of last respect to the heroes, admiration for art beauty and desire to create, fill one’s consciousness and so the future with light and joy.