Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

What Garage Museum of Contemporary Art does

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Музей современного искусства «Гараж») is a Moscow-based non-profit museum of contemporary art, headquartered at 9 Krymsky Val in Gorky Park and operating supplementary sites at VDNKh (Garage Studios) and the Dom Narkomfin Constructivist building. Founded as an institution in 2008, it formalized its permanent collection in 2024, spanning Russian art from the 1980s to the 2020s, and pairs this with what it describes as the world's largest archive on Soviet and Russian contemporary art (collected since 2012) and a 55,000+ volume specialized library. Its core programmatic format is Open Storage, a rotating thematic exhibition of the collection, currently featuring 'Art on the 1980s Wavelength,' 'The Woman Artist's Book: Tattooed with Emptiness,' and the Tatyana Nazarenko 'Transition' atrium installation, supported by a curator-recorded audio guide and a multi-channel public program.

The institution runs a diversified program surface that includes the Garage Screen film program and distribution arm (since 2019), the Garage.Digital new-media program, a research infrastructure (RAAN, Field Research, Research Laboratories, GARAGE.txt grants), the Garage Studios artist-residency program, the Station Radio podcast platform, an on-site café led by chef Igor Kotov, a museum shop, and a publishing imprint. Distribution combines three Moscow physical venues with self-serve online platforms — Zapomni ticketing, Lastick-based GARAGE loyalty card, and garage.digital — plus the annual Garage Screen Film Festival touring Russian cities and CIS countries.

The revenue model is a hybrid of consumer ticket sales (exhibitions ~600₽, tours 1,100–5,000₽, cinema 250–500₽, workshops 1,000–10,000₽, Narkomfin tours 2,550–3,000₽), an annual GARAGE loyalty card subscription, café and shop transactions, distribution fees, and an endowment fund supported by individual donors and corporate partners (Ushatava, Rocketbank). Customer segments are broad and fragmented — general visitors, families and children, inclusive audiences (deaf/HoH, blind/partially sighted, neurodiverse, migrant-background), researchers and curators, resident artists, cardholders/donors, cinema audiences, and architecture-walk attendees — with free admission extended to GARAGE cardholders and, as of June 2026, to students worldwide.

Name

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Legal name

Музей современного искусства «Гараж» (Museum of Contemporary Art «Garage»)

Website

https://garagemca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art is a Moscow-based non-profit museum operating Open Storage exhibitions of Russian contemporary art, a 55,000-volume research library, the world's largest Soviet/Russian contemporary-art archive, film and digital-arts programs, and a loyalty-card membership serving general visitors, researchers, families, and inclusive audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

Keywords

• Contemporary art museum
• Art exhibitions
• Cultural programming
• Artist residencies
• Art education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticketed museum admission and exhibitions: Admission fees to exhibitions (e.g., 600₽ for "Искусство на частоте 1980-х") and Open Storage exhibitions sold via zapomni.ru ticketing platform; selected installations in the atrium are free (e.g., Tatyana Nazarenko "Transition").
2. Guided tours and architectural walks: Group tours of Open Storage at 1,100₽ per person; individual tours (1-5 people) at 5,000₽ (ticket not included); architectural walks 1,200-1,500₽; adapted tours 800₽; tours of the Narkomfin Building 2,550-3,000₽.
3. Cinema screenings (Garage Screen): Cinema ticket sales 250-500₽ for film screenings in the museum lecture hall; free screenings by registration; some screenings free for GARAGE cardholders (50% discount on up to two tickets). Film distribution operation since 2019 also generates distribution revenue.
4. GARAGE loyalty card membership: Annual subscription-based loyalty card valid for 1 year from activation; provides free museum/library admission, discounts on café (15%), shops (10% in Moscow and St. Petersburg), tours (15%), cinema (50% off two tickets), exclusive events, Narkomfin Building café access, and roof pavilion access on Sundays; 10% renewal discount.
5. Café operations (Garage Cafe): On-site café serving all-day breakfasts, keto and vegetarian dishes, Russian wines, specialty coffee; 15% GARAGE card discount; 20% off takeaway drinks for visitors using their own cups; catering and events for groups of 10+.
6. Museum shop and publishing: Online shop (shop.garagemca.org) selling publications, postcards and merchandise; publishing program producing books on contemporary culture; 10% GARAGE card discount in Moscow and St. Petersburg shops.
7. Workshops, educational programs and kids events: Paper animation workshop "Paper Garage" 2,000₽ per person / 10,000₽ for organized groups; children's quest 1,000₽ per person / 1,000-10,000₽ for groups; family and accessible workshops; paid online courses ("Театр в расширенном поле" theater course); master classes for organizations.
8. Donations and endowment: Endowment fund (endowment.garagemca.org) accepts donations to support the museum; supported by individual patrons, corporate partners (Ushatava, Rocketbank), and GARAGE card holders whose membership fees contribute to museum operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art operates a non-profit museum dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and making publicly accessible contemporary Russian art from the 1980s through the 2020s. Its central offering is a rotating Open Storage exhibition format drawing from a permanent collection of paintings, graphics, sculpture, video, objects and installations, supported by a research library of 55,000+ books, a Garage Screen film program with distribution since 2019, artist residencies at VDNKh Studios, Garage Café and museum shop, and an inclusive accessibility program offering RSL tours, typhlocommentary, and tactile models. The museum generates revenue through ticket sales, annual GARAGE loyalty card memberships, café and shop transactions, endowment fund donations, and grants.

Product overview

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Музей современного искусства «Гараж»), based in Moscow at 9 Krymsky Val, operates a platform-plus-modules architecture rather than a single unified product. Its core visitor-facing modules are organized around the rotating Open Storage exhibition format (currently showing the «Art on the 1980s Wavelength», «The Woman Artist's Book. Tattooed with Emptiness» and the Tatyana Nazarenko «Transition» installation) and the Garage Screen film program; supporting modules include the Garage Library (more than 55,000 volumes), the Garage Cafe, the Garage Museum Shop, the paid Garage Loyalty Card, the Narkomfin Building heritage program, Garage Studios at VDNKh, the New Media Program (with the garage.digital platform) and Station Radio. Cross-cutting programs — Field Research, Grants and Scholarships (including GARAGE.txt), Research Laboratories, Inclusive Programs, the Publishing Program, the RAAN archive network, the Garage Screen Film Festival, the Garage Screen Distribution arm and the Endowment Fund — extend the museum's research, accessibility, publishing and funding activities. Digital touchpoints include the Open Storage curator-led audio guide, online courses, and a calendar of events, mediations and tours ticketed through the third-party Zapomni platform and the Lastick-based Garage Card.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Garage Screen: Film program of the Garage Museum featuring curated screenings, distribution, and the Garage Screen Film Festival across Russia and CIS countries.
• Garage Digital
• RAAN
• Станция (Station)
• Garage Studios
• Open Storage (Открытое хранение)
• Narkomfin Building (Дом Наркомфина)

Products and services

• Open Storage Exhibition Format (Открытое хранение)
• Art on the 1980s Wavelength Exhibition (Искусство на частоте 1980-х)
• The Woman Artist's Book: Tattooed with Emptiness Exhibition (Книга художницы. Татуировка пустотой)
• Tatyana Nazarenko "Transition" Installation (Переход)
• Garage Screen Film Program (Кинопрограмма)
• Garage Library (Библиотека Музея «Гараж»)
• Garage Café (Кафе «Гараж»)
• Garage Museum Shop
• GARAGE Loyalty Card (Карта GARAGE)
• Garage Studios at VDNKh (Мастерские Музея «Гараж»)
• Garage Studios at VDNKh Educational Programs (Мастер-классы, Детская мастерская)
• Inclusive Programs (Инклюзивные программы)
• Architectural Walks (Walks with Garage)
• Narkomfin Building Tours (Манифест нового быта. Дом Наркомфина)
• Garage Screen Film Festival
• Garage Museum Publishing Program (Издательская программа)
• Garage Field Research and Grants Programs (Полевые исследования, Гранты и стипендии)
• Garage New Media Program and Garage.Digital (Программа «Новые медиа»)
• Station Radio Podcast (Радио «Станция»)

Quantifiable outcome

• Library collection exceeds 55,000 books and magazines with reading room seating 120 people
• +5 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Students from around the world (free admission program)coreOthers · 17 June 2026Garage announced on 17 June 2026 that students from around the world receive free admission to the museum. Operational/institutional program rather than a single partner; included here as a major outreach initiative.
• Dom Narkomfin (House of Narkomfin) / Alexey GinzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Garage operates curatorial programming at Dom Narkomfin, the Constructivist architectural monument. The "Manifesto for a New Life. Dom Narkomfin" tour was prepared by Garage guide Zhanna Sevostyanova together with Alexey Ginzburg (grandson of architect Moisey Ginzburg). Includes a café operated within the building.
• Obyedinenie (Объединение online gallery)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 December 2025Garage Museum Workshops and the Obyedinenie online gallery jointly released a set of postcards (announced 25 December 2024 [source uses 25 дек 2024]). Joint publishing/merchandise collaboration.
• Ushatava (Модный Дом Ushatava)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 October 2025Russian fashion house Ushatava became a partner of Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (announced 24 October 2025). Specific scope of partnership not detailed in source.
• Rocketbank (Рокетбанк)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2025Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and Rocketbank announced the start of their partnership on 9 June 2025. On 8 July 2025 they jointly opened the cultural space "Klumb" (Клумб). Rocketbank is a Russian digital banking/fintech brand.
• Garage Library Publishing Partners (MIT Press, Sternberg Press, Phaidon Press, Taschen, V—A—C Press, НЛО, НИУ ВШЭ)coreOthers · 1 January 2017Garage Library regularly receives books from leading international and Russian publishers (MIT Press, Sternberg Press, Phaidon Press, Taschen, V—A—C Press, Novoe Literaturnoe Obozrenie, ID NIU VShE) and exhibition catalogues from Tretyakov Gallery, Russian Museum, Centre Pompidou, MoMA NY and others.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow (MAMM): Moscow-based contemporary art museum with photography and multimedia exhibitions, public programs, and educational courses. Closely comparable in category (contemporary art) and city footprint, though smaller collection scope than Garage.
• GES-2 House of Culture (V-A-C Foundation): Major Moscow contemporary art center opened by the V-A-C Foundation in a restored power station. Competes directly for contemporary art audience, programming talent, and corporate sponsors in Moscow.
• Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA): Moscow's first museum of contemporary art with multiple branches and a permanent collection of Russian and foreign modern art. Direct peer in scale, city, and curatorial ambition.
• Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art: St. Petersburg's largest private contemporary art museum with permanent collection, exhibitions, and public programs. Comparable operating model (private museum, exhibitions + cafe + tours) though regional rather than Moscow-based.
• National Center for Contemporary Arts (NCCA / ROSIZO): Federal Russian institution supporting contemporary art across multiple regions with exhibition and residency programs. Direct peer in national-scope contemporary art mandate.

Regional players

• Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center: Large Moscow museum combining permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, and extensive public programming on tolerance and history. Comparable in scale and educational scope but with a thematic rather than contemporary-art focus.

Broad incumbents

• State Tretyakov Gallery: Russia's flagship national art museum with a much larger collection spanning Russian art from medieval times to the present. Comparable as a major Moscow art institution but with broader historical rather than contemporary focus.
• State Hermitage Museum: One of the world's largest museums, headquartered in St. Petersburg with massive endowment and global brand. Comparable as a Russian cultural heavyweight but operating at a fundamentally different scale and scope.
• Tate Modern: London's flagship contemporary art museum with global brand and large-scale exhibitions. Comparable in contemporary art programming model and public-program depth, but operating at a vastly larger scale and international footprint.
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): New York's leading contemporary art museum combining collection, exhibitions, film program, library, and publishing. Closely comparable in platform-plus-modules architecture (collection + film + library + publishing + education) but at global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/garageccc
• Facebookfacebook.com/garageccc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garage-museum-of-contemporary-art

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garage Museum of Contemporary Art