Visiting regulations

Visiting the House of Culture is only possible by prior registration for a single entrance ticket or a ticketed event. A single entrance ticket allows you to enter during a chosen hour. Registering for a ticketed event allows you to enter the building one hour before the event begins. If you would like to come earlier, please be sure to make an additional single entrance registration.

We cannot guarantee entrance to the building if you show up earlier or later than your reserved time slot. We ask you to be understanding, as this is a forced and temporary measure.

General rules

–Visiting GES-2 House of Culture is only possible by prior registration for a single entrance ticket or a ticketed event. A single entrance ticket allows you to enter during a chosen time slot. We cannot guarantee entrance to the building if you show up earlier or later than your reserved time slot.

–A ticket for a concert, film screening, or other event allows you to enter GES-2 House of Culture one hour before the event begins. If you would like to come earlier, please be sure to register for an additional single entrance ticket.

–We cannot allow visitors who refuse to follow our code of conduct to remain in the House of Culture. Security employees have the right to ask these visitors to leave GES-2.

–Children and teenagers under 14 may only enter the building accompanied by an adult with a passport. Teenagers between 14 and 17 years of age may enter the building on their own upon presentation of a passport to prove their age.

–If you are visiting with children, please familiarise yourself with our full visitor regulations and make sure your children understand how they should behave at the House of Culture. Do not leave your children unattended—you are responsible for their behaviour at GES-2.

–It is not permitted to bring items which may cause inconvenience or harm to other visitors into GES-2. Please acquaint yourself with the list of prohibited items before your visit.

–At the entrance to GES-2, visitors must pass the walk-through metal detector and place their bags and other belongings on the X-ray machine belt. Please be aware that security guards may request that you open your bag for further inspection with special equipment.

–Visitors are permitted to enter GES-2 with non-alcoholic drinks in plastic bottles with a volume of no more than 1 litre, as well as cups with a lid. However, food and drink of any kind are not allowed in exhibition spaces.

–GES-2 employees have the right to deny visitors access to the building or use of the storage lockers without explanation (even if the items in question are permitted).

–We love pets, but at present only guide dogs are allowed on the premises of GES-2.

–Interpretation materials and equipment for visitors with disabilities are available at the information desk on the 1 floor.

–There is a changing room with a comfortable area for breastfeeding on the −1 floor.

–Please do not touch any of the art works on display. You may only touch tactile models.

–Smoking and the use of any devices containing nicotine, including vapes, is prohibited throughout the premises of GES-2.

–Carrying out trade and entrepreneurial activities inside the GES-2 building and on the adjacent premises is not permitted. It is also prohibited to hold any events without approval, even if they do not involve the participation of employees and other visitors to GES-2.

–Individual tours are not available at GES-2, but free mediation tours are offered everyday. You can consult the schedule and register for a mediation tour on our website.

–GES-2 House of Culture usually closes at 22:00, however, on certain occasions, we may close earlier. In such cases, we will inform you about this upon entry. All visitors must leave the building by the specified time.

Outerwear and large items

–If you plan to visit the exhibition areas, Playhouse, or Library, please leave your outerwear in the Cloakroom. The Classrooms are equipped with their own coat racks.

–Umbrellas and items larger than 30×40×20 cm must be left in the Cloakroom or in the storage lockers.

–Baby strollers are allowed throughout GES-2, except in the Playhouse. Please be aware that temporary restrictions may be in place in the exhibition areas due to the nature of certain exhibitions. If necessary, strollers may be left at the designated parking area to the left of the main entrance, under the stairs leading to the Library.

–Children’s scooters, balance bikes, and skateboards may be brought into GES-2 but cannot be used inside the building. They can be left in the lockers or at our parking area for baby strollers.

–Adult and child bikes, adult scooters, and electric scooters can be left at two street parking areas: one is by the service entrance to the building from the Udarnik cinema side, the other is by the Vaults and the Patriarshy pedestrian bridge.

–GES-2 cannot be held responsible for the safety of personal belongings left unattended by visitors.

Photos and videos

–Only photos taken on your phone are permitted at GES-2. We ask you not to use professional photography equipment, or any flashes, stabilisers, or microphones (including lavalier microphones).

–Taking photos must not disturb other visitors, which means we do not permit the use of additional props, changes of clothes, shoes, or accessories.

–Without the prior approval of the press office, it is not permitted to conduct professional, commercial, or creative filming (costume, wedding, dance, or other staging) of people or objects at GES-2. If you would like to receive permission for a photoshoot, please send a request to press@v-a-c.org. You will receive a confirmation or refusal of accreditation by email (it will take a minimum of three working days to process your request).

–Please stop taking photos or videos immediately if you are requested to do so by a GES-2 employee. We ask you to be understanding of such requests, as they are always made with the benefit and convenience of other visitors in mind.

Playhouse and events at the House of Culture

–If you have come to the House of Culture to attend a concert, film screening, or other event, please leave your outerwear in the Cloakroom.

–If you have come to an event at the Playhouse with a stroller, please leave it at the designated parking area—you will find it to the left of the main entrance, under the stairs leading to the Library.

–Water and soft drinks in plastic bottles with a volume of no more than one litre, as well as coffee and tea in lidded cups, may be brought into the Playhouse. Food is not permitted in the Playhouse.

–We ask that you arrive to concerts, performances, and other events at the House of Culture on time, as we may not be able to allow you entry otherwise.

–A free-seating policy is in operation at film screenings. If you are late to the beginning of a screening, please choose a seat you can access without disturbing other viewers.

–Certain events at the House of Culture are limited to an 18+ audience. If you are attending such an event, we may ask to see a document confirming your age. Accompanying adults are responsible for children attending events with age restrictions.

–Any photography or video recording is forbidden at film screenings, performances, and other events.

Forest and Vaults

–The Forest has a sophisticated and fragile irrigation system beneath the soil. To avoid damaging it, please keep to the path.

–Building fires, sunbathing in beachwear, and listening to loud music is not permitted in the Forest. Please also refrain from playing outdoor games that might disturb other visitors.

–Only professionals have access to the Vaults workshops, but the walls have been made transparent to allow you to watch them at work.

–Getting acquainted with the Vaults workshops and working with professional equipment is possible by attending one of our master classes. We invite people over the age of 18 to participate, and may ask to see a document confirming your age.

Items prohibited at GES-2

GES-2 House of Culture does not permit visitors to bring in items that may cause inconvenience or harm either to other visitors and their property, or to GES-2 property. GES-2 employees reserve the right to refuse visitors access to the premises and use of the lockers without explanation (even if the items in question are permitted).

The following items cannot be brought into GES-2 but can be stored in the lockers by the main entrance:

–piercing or cutting implements (including knives and scissors) up to 9 cm in length

–aerosol cans, excepting self-defence equipment (pepper spray cans cannot be brought into the building or stored in the lockers)

–laser lights and pointers

–hardware

–beverages in containers with a capacity of more than 1 litre, or in glass jars and bottles (baby food and medicine in glass jars are permitted)

–alcoholic beverages of any kind

GES-2 House of Culture is not responsible for the safety of items stored in lockers. Any items left behind in lockers will be removed at the end of each day. Perishable products will be disposed of immediately. Any other items left behind will be disposed of if not claimed within 7 days.

The following items cannot be brought into GES-2 or stored in the lockers by the main entrance:

–weapons of any kind, including self-defence equipment, pepper spray cans, ammunition, components of firearms, piercing and cutting implements or knives over 9 cm in length, other cold weapons, and electric shock devices

–electronic radio and high-frequency devices, walkie-talkies, television and telecommunication equipment

–photo and video recording devices for covert surveillance

–propelled and gliding aircraft and their models (gliders, drones, kites, etc.)

–bicycles, electric scooters, adult scooters (please use the bike stands outside the building)

–sporting equipment

–artworks, including printed reproductions, drawings or paintings in frames, on canvas stretchers, or in rolled-up form, as well as sculptures of any size

–extremist, offensive, or discriminatory materials

–explosives, flammable and pyrotechnic substances, devices, or products

–flammable and combustible liquids and gases, compressed and liquefied gases

–flammable solids

–toxic, poisonous, or pungent substances

–oxidising agents and organic peroxides

–toxic substances, radioactive materials, and corrosive substances, as well as pathogenic biological agents

–narcotic, psychotropic, and toxic substances, including in the form of medicines

–dyes and any powders of unknown origin

–other substances, materials, and items, including of homemade origin, which could cause smoke or fire

* In case of discrepancy, the meaning and spirit of the Russian version shall be used to interpret the regulations.