Artistic Director of the Novosibirsk opera and ballet theatre and the Mikhailosky theatre Vladimir Kekhman was awarded with a breastplate of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation “For contribution to the Russian culture”. Ministerial award was presented 14th March during a solemn ceremony by the minister of culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky. Prior to the ceremony, the minister told he is happy to remark those workers of culture, “who devote their lives to augmentation of our cultural heritage”. The official award paper says that Vladimir Kekhman is awarded “for a significant contribution to the development of culture and many years of excellent work”. Companies of the Novosibirsk opera and ballet theatre and the Mikhailovsky theatre extend heartfelt congratulations to the Artistic Director with appreciation of his intense work and wish him further artistic achievements.