Ex-Minister Irina Shirshova on Departure and Graduate Studies
Irina Shirshova served as Yaroslavl«s culture minister before the department»s merger and is now pursuing advanced studies.
Former Yaroslavl Oblast Culture Minister Irina Shirshova has commented on her departure from the leadership position. Recall that on January 24, 2026, it became known that the region would merge the Tourism and Culture Ministries. The new authority will be headed by Svetlana Kostyshina, who previously served as deputy head of the governor«s administration.
On January 26, Irina Shirshova published a farewell post on her social media.
«I served Yaroslavl culture for over 20 years. I remember every facility of the national project »Culture,« and there were 199 of them. <…> I thank everyone — from the governor to the museum guard — for the invaluable life experience. Leading such a vast sphere, communicating with bright and talented individuals, implementing large-scale and strategic projects, hearing and understanding each person, was difficult but very interesting,» wrote the former Yaroslavl Oblast culture minister.
She also reported that she has been admitted to the Moscow State Institute of Culture directly into the master«s and postgraduate programs in cultural studies. As 76.RU was informed by the university, studying at two educational levels is possible after completing a specialist»s degree.
«If one has a specialist»s diploma, then the person has the right to study in both the master«s and postgraduate programs. The education law has no restrictions that would prohibit studying in two directions simultaneously. However, after a bachelor»s degree, the next step is indeed a master«s program, and then — a postgraduate program,» clarified 76.RU at the information desk of the Moscow State Institute of Culture.
At the end of her post, the former Yaroslavl culture minister noted that she will forever remain connected to the capital of the Golden Ring.
«In Yaroslavl, my family, friends, and more than five thousand people with whom we worked together in culture remain. Therefore, of course, I am always in touch with you…» shared Irina Shirshova.
In recent years, Yaroslavl Oblast has been undergoing a large-scale reorganization in the spheres of education, healthcare, and culture. Now, the region has unified hospitals, educational clusters (centers including schools and kindergartens) and other institutions. They have also merged museum-reserves, cultural centers and theaters. Due to reorganizations, staff are being cut in various state institutions. For more on this — read the special report.
