'Travel with Intourist' talk at GRAD

GRAD: Gallery For Russian Arts and Design presents ‘TRAVEL WITH INTOURIST’ on Thursday 1 August at 7pm, at their recently opened non-profit arts space in Central London. The talk focuses on GRAD’s ongoing inaugural exhibition SEE USSR (until 31 Aug), which brings together an incredible collection of Russian Soviet era propaganda posters related to tourism from the 1920s – 30s.

On Thursday evening GRAD presents readings and reminiscences of travelling with Intourist in the 1960s and '70s. Speaker Nicholas Murray was in Moscow in July 1968 and will talk about his impressions and conversations during that month of international tension, when the Soviet Union invaded the Czech Republic to crush liberal political reforms. Also speaking about his experiences travelling with Intourist through the Southern Republics of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in 1977 is Richard Barling, a Director at GRAD and an expert in Russian art.

Visitors are also welcome to contribute their own stories about travelling in Russia, and the talk promises to be a constructive and entertaining discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet travel monopoly.